Putting the family in FSS

Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark. -- The 189th Force Support Squadron's Airman and Family Readiness Flight has a new face in it. His name is Mr. Ed Summers. Hired in March of this year, Mr. Summers is now the Program Manager for the 189thAirlift Wing's Family Programs. He may be a new addition to the FSS and the 189AW, but Mr. Summers is not new to the Air Force or supporting military families.

Mr. Summers served 20 years as an active duty Airman and retired in 1991. He rejoined the Force as a Department of the Air Force civilian employee in 1992. Since then, he has had an array of duties and assignments across the Air Force similarly comparable to those that an active duty Airman would have.

Mr. Summers served as a Base Records Manager and Personal Financial Manager for Vance AFB, OK. In September 2001, Mr. Summers relocated to Little Rock AFB as a Relocation Specialist. His next assignment would take him thousands of miles away from Arkansas to the country of Japan where he worked as a Work Life Consultant for three years at Yokota Air Force Base. In 2006, Mr. Summers moved back to Little Rock AFB as a Community Readiness Consultant, specifically as a Transition Assistance Manager in the Family Support Center. Three years later, Mr. Summers was hired as an Air Force Wounded Warrior Case Manager at the Air Force Personnel Center (AFPC) in San Antonio, Texas and proudly assisted over 85 Air Force Wounded Warriors. But something kept bringing him back to the state of Arkansas over the span of his career. Finally in January of 2011, Mr. Summers moved back to Little Rock AFB as a Community Readiness Consultant, specifically as a Personal Financial Readiness Advisor and served Team Little Rock until recently being hired as the 189AW Family Program Manager.

Mr. Summers has a passion for people and for the military family. He's been married for 40 years to Ginny Summers whom they've had five children, two of which are currently serving in the 189th AW. He also has 4 grandchildren and one on the way. When asked about his goal for the Family Program, he explained "my goal is to provide to our leadership, top down, resources and direction that will aid them in developing a cohesive unit that are both, resilient and mission ready. In other words, the installation and unit leadership are my number one customers. If I take care of their members and families, then I will have taken care of them."

The Air National Guard offers assistance and support to Airman, their families and unit leadership through various programs such as the Key Spouse Program, Transition Assistance Program, Personal Financial Readiness, and Deployment Readiness. If you would like more information, please contact Mr. Summers at 987-5952 or earl.summers@ang.af.mil.