VALDOSTA — Two months after retiring from Moody Air Force Base civil service, a Valdosta woman received a surprise.

Anita Johnson, who had worked at Moody 34 years, most recently as a vehicle management assistant, was presented with the Department of the Air Force Award for Meritorious Civilian Service on Aug. 13.

“... I was responsible for the government’s fleet of vehicles and equipment,” Anita said. “My primary responsibility was ... over the accident/warranty/contract programs ... I made sure the government was not charged for repairs where warranty is a concern.”

From bulldozers and tractors to Chevrolet Impalas and Ford F-350 trucks, Anita was responsible for “getting them fixed and back to the organization in a timely and safe manner where they could perform their duties on the flight line.

“I had to coordinate with the body shops downtown on pricing and even had to deliver vehicles myself. I had to make sure we took advantage of our warranty program.”

Sometimes Anita would take the vehicles to Tifton, Adel and Nashville for repair just to get the best price, she said.

According to the citation signed by Col. Billy D. Thompson, 23rd Wing commander, “Mrs. Johnson provided keen oversight of the 23rd Wing vehicle accident, misuse and abuse program by processing 450 accident cases and over 21,000 work orders in support of over 493 vehicles valued at more than 38 million dollars.

“Her actions helped sustain a mission-capable rate of 93.2 percent, 3.2 percent above the Air Combat command standard.”

The citation stated her “leadership and professionalism” earned her the Transportation Squadron Civilian of the Quarter for two consecutive quarters in 2001, and that she was also selected as the 2001 Moody Air Force Base Transportation Professional of the Year. During the 2008 Unit Compliance Inspection, she earned letters of appreciation from both the 23rd Mission Support Group commander and the 23rd wing commander.

“These actions were vital to her section earning the 2008 Air Combat Command Superior Team Award,” the citation stated. “The distinctive accomplishments of Mrs. Johnson reflect great credit upon herself and the United States Air Force.” Anita said she was “surprised” by the award and felt “good” about it. Prior to her June retirement, she had been honored earlier at a retirement ceremony held May 22 when the award was in the works.

The 55-year-old Valdosta native grew up in the Tom Town community in the Troup Street area in a neighborhood “where everyone knew each other.”

  “My life started when I got into church and turned my life over to the Lord at the age of 15,” she said. “The church became like a family to me, and the pastor (Marilyn Thomas of Oracles of Deliverance Church) like a mother to me.” At the urging of her pastor, Anita went to work at Moody AFB after her buying habits outspent the salary of her newlywed husband, Gary Johnson, who was making $2.30 an hour at the time.

Anita began working at Moody as a clerk-typist at age 20 and held various jobs before becoming a vehicle management assistant.

During her more than three decades at Moody, she also worked under four different commands: Tactical Air Command (TAC), Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC), Air Force Materiel Command (AFMC), and Air Combat Command (ACC).

 “On every job, there are challenges, and through the pastor’s prayers and guidance, I was able to overcome those challenges,” Anita said.

“It was a challenge when we changed commands, learning the new regs and dealing with new bosses and the way they preferred doing things. The challenges now (in today’s economy) are doing more with less.

“When (personnel) deployed, we took on the responsibilities of those who had left and still met deadlines.”

The Valdosta High School graduate, who attended Georgia Military College and Park University, was able to take advantage of training opportunities through the Air Force.

She and husband Gary, a next-day air shuttle driver for UPS, have been married 36 years.