Iceman in Action: Airman 1st Class Christopher Gallagher

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Ashley Nicole Taylor
  • 354th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska --  Rank and Name: A1C Christopher Storey Gallagher

Duty Title: Agency/Organization Program Coordinator for GPC Card Program, 354th Contracting Squadron

Hometown: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Why is serving in the Air Force important to you? Growing up I always knew I wanted to be a part of something that meant more to me than just a paycheck: I wanted to get involved in something that would allow for me to make a positive difference. After growing up as an Air Force Recruiter's son and seeing how this branch operated and took care of its people, I decided that serving in the Air Force would be a good way to start moving in that direction. My job also allows for me to positively influence how taxpayer dollars are spent by offering business advice to customers as well as researching better purchasing methods and acquisition strategies.

What moment or accomplishment as a member of the Iceman Team are you most proud of and why? One of my proudest moments to date would have to be my selection for Senior Airman Below-the-Zone. It's just one of those things that verify to me that I've been working hard and that it's been noticed and appreciated. Other than that, getting my schooling done and gaining more functional knowledge in my career field feels like an accomplishment in and of itself.

What is your favorite part of your job? I love seeing the different ways that the Contracting Team affects Eielson as a whole. Many people fail to see that things occurring around the base, such as new buildings & facilities, quality of life facilities improvements and even some organization sponsored retreats, flow through our office. Overall, it's awesome seeing the remarkably positive impact that our squadron, one of the smallest on this base, has on all of Eielson's military members and their families as well as watching all of our hard work and efforts culminate into something awesome.

Who inspires you and why? I've got a lot of influential people in my life including a lot of family, friends and my girlfriend. I would have to say that my older brother, Joshua, has inspired me the most. He overcame a lot of things that no one thought he'd be able to fight through and managed to do so while maintaining a strong faith and a smile on his face. Just looking back on his unwavering strength and determination helps me realize that I can accomplish anything if I want it bad enough and fight for it hard enough.

What's your favorite part about being in Alaska? Alaska is just one of those places I never imagined I would visit, much less live in. One of the most alluring parts of joining the Air Force, to me, was the opportunity to travel to places I've never been: I'm just fortunate enough to have been able to check Alaska off of that list early on in my career. Though the remoteness of this base can prove to be difficult at times, I enjoy the constant sunlight in the summers, snowboarding in the winters, and the wow factor that this state's scenery delivers year-round.