#SoCaltech: Elizabeth Nugent
"I spent eight years on active duty with the U.S. Air Force as a logistics readiness officer and have spent the last seven years in the Air National Guard, currently serving as a public affairs officer. I've been fortunate to have been a part of domestic and international humanitarian operations; involved in the planning and transporting of an elephant on an aircraft (all appropriate agencies were involved to ensure Maggie's welfare prior to, during, and after that event); provided logistics support to NASA, FEMA, and the CDC; served as liaison to international representatives while overseas; and worked with people who were willing to take action to rectify problems within our military environment instead of ignoring them.
"My expertise and experience most recently culminated in traveling to Washington, D.C., in January 2021 to support the presidential inauguration and provide protection for the Library of Congress building as part of the mass activation of the Air and Army National Guard to deter further domestic terrorism in and around the Capitol building. As a public affairs officer, I could not be deputized and armed, but I was kept busy coordinating and documenting Army and Air National Guard personnel experiences, liaising with local media representatives, and performing welfare checks on our soldiers and airmen. Experiencing our capital in this manner was surreal, but I think this deployment may be one that has given me the most satisfaction to date. Regardless of our differing backgrounds, beliefs, and ages, we volunteered for this task force meant to protect our own nation and all of those who serve it.
"The last 15 years have afforded me the opportunity to travel, interact, connect with, and learn from people all over the planet; experience inherent and earned comradery; learn tough lessons that positively impacted my resiliency and perspective; and be a part of events with large impact. I recognize parallels to my military experience here at Caltech, and the skills I have learned and refined over the years translate well. Teamwork, accountability, innovation, purpose, and impact are the first five words that come to mind when considering how to describe the overlap between my time in the Air Force and here at Caltech."
Elizabeth Nugent is an office assistant in the Center for Teaching, Learning, and Outreach at Caltech and a public affairs officer in the Air National Guard. Her story is part of the Institute's recognition of campus veterans for Veterans Day 2021.
#SoCaltech is an occasional series celebrating the diverse individuals who give Caltech its spirit of excellence, ambition, and ingenuity. Know someone we should profile? Send nominations to magazine@caltech.edu.