Airman of the Week: Staff Sgt. Lauren B. Karas

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  • By 436th Airlift Wing
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. --  

Name/rank: Staff Sgt. Lauren B. Karas

Squadron: 436th Civil Engineer Squadron: "best in the Air Force"

Job description: Electrical power production, where I troubleshoot, repair, and replace generators, automatic transfer panels and switchgears.

Dream assignment and why? I do not really have a dream assignment. I have a pretty versatile personality, so I am confident I would make the best out of anywhere the Air Force sends me. 

Family: My 3-year-old son, Brody and a 7-month-old Great Dane, Havoc.

Favorite movie: Anything by Quentin Tarantino

Favorite food: I have a good palate, so pretty much anything. Independent restaurants tend to have the best food and service.

Favorite book: "Atlas Shrugged", by Ayn Rand

Who inspires you? Individuals who understand what it means to contribute and not just participate in life. This ideal drives not only your work environment, but the improvement of your home life, and most importantly yourself. The aspiration to be the best person you can be, and to continuously set the bar higher for yourself, benefits your family, your friends and the mission. I have met many people who share this view, and they greatly inspire me.

Have you been deployed? I was deployed to Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan, from 2010 to 2011 assigned to the Army's Command Joint Special Operations Task Force. It was a short-notice tasking, and I was very nervous, but being deployed with the men and women I was with was one of the most fulfilling experiences I have had. There is something about being deployed and seeing your work affect the overall mission that is very rewarding. Not only did I get to do my job and provide generator support to the various special operations forces across Afghanistan, I was also trained to assist the vehicle mechanics in repairing damaged vehicles. I learned so much about myself and what I was capable of. I also gained a better understanding of my job, our sister service and the mission. Everything I learned from that deployment has made me very proud of the opportunity I was given.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years? I will still be in the Air Force as a master sergeant. I will have my degree in philosophy. My Course 14 (Senior NCO Correspondence Course) will be completed, and I will be working on my master's degree.

Staff Sgt. Lauren B. Karas is a highly-motivated NCO who constantly goes above-and-beyond in all her duties. The energy she brings to the workplace is contagious and sets the standard for all who work with her. Karas accomplishes every task with a tenacity that is truly inspiring. She provides an outstanding example for all of us in the shop. Without a doubt, she is an incredible asset to the Air Force, and one of the main reasons we are the best civil engineer squadron in the Air Force.
- Master Sgt. Damian Sotelo
         NCO in charge of power production