House Concurrent Resolution 30

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING ADA COLLIER FOR BEING PROMOTED TO COLONEL IN THE AIR FORCE.

WHEREAS, after 30 years of honorable service, Lieutenant Colonel Ada M. Collier has been selected for promotion to the rank of Colonel in the Air Force, a most deserved and prestigious recognition; and

WHEREAS, no one could ever be more proud of Colonel Collier's ceiling breaking rise in the military than the matriarchs of her family, her mother, Minnie B. Collier, and her 95-year-old grandmother, Earlie B. Jimmerson; and

WHEREAS, prior to joining the military, Colonel Collier understood the value of education, graduating from Moss Point High School in 1983 and continuing her studies at the University of South Alabama, earning a bachelor's degree in 1997; and

WHEREAS, this distinction did not come rapidly or effortlessly, in October of 2011, Colonel Collier returned home to Moss Point for a pinning ceremony to celebrate her promotion to Lieutenant Colonel; and

WHEREAS, at this most auspicious event, Colonel Collier spoke of the hard work and sacrifices necessary to become Lieutenant Colonel, a rare event for a nurse, and in 13 years, this was a shorter time frame than the average promotion to Lieutenant Colonel; and

WHEREAS, Colonel Collier, an effective and motivating leader, now works directly for the command nurse at Headquarters Air Force Reserve Command at Robbins Air Force Base in Georgia, managing the careers of 1,400 nurses; and

WHEREAS, she later broke down barriers as the first

African-American female at Air Reserve Personnel Center, headquartered at Buckley Air Force Base in Colorado, the location of her special assignment detail where she achieved the rank of Lieutenant Colonel; and

WHEREAS, Colonel Collier was never concerned with her own glory, she specialized in leadership development so that the Air Force could move nurses along the career path from a clinical nurse to a senior ranking officer; and

WHEREAS, at her Lieutenant Colonel pinning ceremony, Colonel Collier was honored to have Judge Maxine Lawson-Conway administer the oath of office, the only African-American female Colonel Collier knew growing up who attended law school, and whom she considered a role model and an inspiration; and

WHEREAS, as Colonel Collier continued to strive up the competitive ranks of the military, she achieved an amazing accomplishment when she was selected for promotion to the rank of Colonel in the Air Force; and

WHEREAS, Colonel Collier is currently serving as Individual Mobilization Augmentee (IMA) to the Chief Nurse (CN) with the 779th Medical Group, Joint Base Andrews, Maryland; and

WHEREAS, with greater rank comes greater responsibilities, she is now responsible for assisting the CN in developing nursing policies and standards that impact 400 active duty nurses and enlisted medics assigned in the National Capital Region; and

WHEREAS, Colonel Collier's work now requires collaboration with medical group commanders and executive staff to maintain medical IMA requirements and authorizations for the medical group; and

WHEREAS, "Leaders keep their eyes on the horizon, not just on the bottom line," and Colonel Collier is just such a leader, now a key advisor for IMA management issues including assignments, training and force development, matters that are so vital to the future of nurses in our Air Force; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of this Legislature to recognize the accomplishments of such outstanding leaders as Colonel Ada M. Collier who has dedicated her life to God, the United States of America, family and service:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE SENATE CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby commend and congratulate Colonel Ada M. Collier for being promoted to Colonel in the United States Air Force and extend heartiest wishes for success in all of her future endeavors.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Lieutenant Colonel Ada M. Collier, and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.