Climbing the AF ladder one "opportunity" at a time

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Jessica Hines
  • 31st Fighter Wing Public Affairs
AVIANO AIR BASE, Italy --  A Women's History Month celebration is currently being held at Aviano, honoring women's equality and achievements throughout history. This is part two of a four part series, highlighting the accomplishments of women in today's Air Force.

With the growth of the women's movement evolving in the workplace in the 80s and 90s, military operations continued to see an increasing number of women climb the ranks of the armed forces.

In the summer of 1990, while the U.S. moved men and women across the Atlantic in support of the Gulf War, Dorothy Chatfield (Olson), a 26-year-old female from South Carolina, prepared to leave for Air Force basic military training with a goal of becoming a chief master sergeant. Her decision to join the military, according to her, was like most young adults; she found herself in a job she didn't like, with a college education and an ambition to achieve more.

Today, more than 22 years later, Chief Master Sgt. Dorothy Olson, stands among her peers in the top one percent of Air Force enlisted personnel as a chief master sergeant and a part of a growing number of women who hold the highest military titles.

"I don't see myself as a female chief master sergeant, I see myself as a chief," said Olson, 31st Operations Group superintendent. "I didn't get these stripes because I'm a girl. I earned these stripes by working hard, being good at what I do, caring for my Airmen, and adhering to the core values of the United States Air Force," she added.

Working in the OG, Olson helps oversee and prepare Airmen for their day-to-day jobs while helping to ensure combat readiness in two F-16 Fighter Squadrons, an air control squadron and an operational support squadron.

"I love my job; I love talking with the Airmen and helping make a difference," Olson said.

Olson grew up with strong Air Force ties, beginning with her father who retired from active duty as a senior master sergeant after serving in World War II and the Korean War. Olson's mother turned to the Air Force for medical training, which she would take into the civilian world and continue her work as a nurse.

"Once I joined (the Air Force) I didn't see any sense in not achieving the highest rank. If you're going to go, go all the way."

While pursuing her goals, Olson found supportive mentors who guided and encouraged her along the way, to include her husband.

"If it weren't for him, I probably wouldn't have made chief in the time that I did - because I hate studying - I can't just sit and read like he does," Olson said. "But he challenged me."

As a young Airman, Olson found the mentorship of two senior NCOs, now retired, Senior Master Sgt. Roger Black and Chief Master Sgt. Michael Dougherty, who helped guide and educate Olson while giving her 'opportunities to excel.'

"I would get so mad at times," said Olson, who learned from her mentors the value of handling difficult situations, people and assignments. "I just didn't want any more 'opportunities to excel.'"

Speaking of Dougherty, she said, "He made me deal with that diversity and adversity. You can't just give up.

"Sometimes you have to do stuff you don't want to do, but you have to do it, you have to get through it," she said, "It's how we learn."

While hard work, dedication and a strong support system encouraged her to earn the title of "chief," her role as not only a chief, but as a female chief serves to inspire those around her on a daily basis.

"She will be the first to tell you that female or male, a chief is a chief and they earn the stripes the same way as anyone else," said Senior Airman Amber Swearengin, 31st Fighter Wing knowledge operations specialist. "Her being a female just gives a little hope to us young female Airmen aspiring to one day becoming a chief.

As a junior enlisted member with goals of becoming a chief master sergeant herself, Swearengin recalls Olson asking her, "How do you expect to get to that rank one day? It doesn't just happen on its own. What have you done lately that is helping you to achieve this goal of yours?"

"Her words really made me think 'what have I done lately?'" said Swearengin. "Goals are important to have but they are even more important if you lay them out and actually accomplish them. She is a great example of setting a goal, laying it out there and one day finally achieving that goal," added Swearengin.

As of now, Olson has no plans to retire in the near future. She continues to be a mentor and a "chief" to the many Airmen she oversees, paying it forward by giving them many 'opportunities to excel' along the way.