AFRC director retires after 40 years of service Published Feb. 14, 2011 By Airman 1st Class Whitney Jackson Nellis Public Affairs NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. -- Susan Robinson, former director of the Airman and Family Readiness Center, retired Feb. 4 after working with the Air Force for 40 years. "I never planned on staying this long," Ms. Robinson said. "I didn't plan on anything. I just went where the Air Force led me." Ms. Robinson started working with the Air Force as a contractor in 1970 in Vietnam while her husband worked for the embassy. Seeing how different the women were treated around men made her want to take on a task, and started working for equal rights. "To be a young woman working in those times was quite an experience," Ms. Robinson said. She watched the Air Force grow and change over her 40 years, from the acceptance of women to computers and technology. "It's been a gradual change," she explained. "The acceptance of people and recognizing their issues made a great difference. They have potential; we just let them know they had something to contribute. We opened up the human side." During her career with the Air Force, she has given a lot to military members and their families, and has had some wonderful experiences along the way. Now that she is retired, Ms. Robinson has a list of 101 aspirations to accomplish over 1,001 days. Some are business-related, but some are fun activities she's wanted to do, but hasn't had the time. "The Air Force has taken me glorious places," Ms. Robinson said. "I've had a fantastic 40 years."
