Skip to main content (Press Enter).
 News
    
        Photos

    Week in Photos

    Air Force TV

    Commentaries

    Features

    Art

    About Us
    
        Air Force Senior Leaders
    
        SECAF

    CSAF

    CMSAF

    Biographies

    Fact Sheets

    SECAF Reading List

    CSAF Leadership Library
    
        CSAF Leadership Library 2022

    CSAF Leadership Library 2021

    CSAF Reading List Pre-2020 Archive
    
        2018 CSAF Reading List

    2017 CSAF Reading List

    2016 CSAF Reading List

    CSAF Leadership Library 2023

    CMSAF Leadership Library

    50 Years of the CMSAF

    Adjunct Professors

    Air Force Strategic Documents

    Arctic Strategy

    Empowered Airmen

    State Licensure Portability

    Careers

    AF Federal Advisory Committees

    AF 75th Anniversary

    Policy Updates

    AF Content Management

    Contact Us

    AF Sites
    
        Site RegistrationU.S. Air Force LogoAir Force

        Policy UpdatesNewsroomReoptimizationBIOGRAPHIESAF Senior Leaders      Patricia Barson, who works at Taco Bell in Hill Air Force Base’s exchange food court, was honored Oct. 16, 2015, as one of the Defense Department’s outstanding employees with a disability. Patricia was selected for the award from among 32,000 AAFES employees worldwide. (U.S. Air Force photo/Micah Garbarino)Hill food court worker selected for DOD award
                        
                        
                        Patricia Barson, who works at Taco Bell in Hill Air Force Base’s exchange food court, was honored Oct. 16, 2015, as one of the Defense Department’s outstanding employees with a disability. Patricia was selected for the award from among 32,000 AAFES employees worldwide. (U.S. Air Force photo/Micah Garbarino)
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res
        


        Patricia Barson, middle, and her sister Ashley, speak to the media after Patricia was honored Oct. 16, 2015, as one of the Defense Department’s outstanding employees with a disability. Patricia was selected for the award from among 32,000 AAFES employees worldwide. The twins were the second set of conjoined twins, fused at the cranium, to survive a separation surgery. During the surgery Patricia suffered a stroke and she has limited use of her left side. The twins say there have been challenges stemming from their condition throughout their lives, but they both are “blessed and honored” to work at Hill. (U.S. Air Force photo/Micah Garbarino)Hill food court worker selected for DOD award
                        
                        
                        Patricia Barson, middle, and her sister Ashley, speak to the media after Patricia was honored Oct. 16, 2015, as one of the Defense Department’s outstanding employees with a disability. Patricia was selected for the award from among 32,000 AAFES employees worldwide. The twins were the second set of conjoined twins, fused at the cranium, to survive a separation surgery. During the surgery Patricia suffered a stroke and she has limited use of her left side. The twins say there have been challenges stemming from their condition throughout their lives, but they both are “blessed and honored” to work at Hill. (U.S. Air Force photo/Micah Garbarino)
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res

Hill food court worker selected for DOD awardPublished Oct. 19, 2015
                    
                    By Micah Garbarino
                    
                    
                    75th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
            **HILL AIR FORCE BASE, Utah (AFNS) --**Holding her award to her aproned chest, right next to her Taco Bell name tag, Patricia Barson beamed."It's my greatest dream in life," said the Army and Air Force Exchange Service employee. "I just want to serve people."Patricia was honored Oct. 16 as one of the Defense Department's outstanding employees with a disability. She was selected for the award from among 32,000 AAFES employees worldwide.Working the register at Taco Bell in Hill Air Force Base's exchange food court, she has served meals to thousands of Airmen.Those who know Patricia say her physical limitations, which stem from her being separated from her conjoined twin sister, have never dimmed her spirit."Patricia is very loving and giving. She deserves this award," said her mother Kathie Barson. "She works very hard at what she does because she doesn't want to be seen as a person with disabilities."Patricia and her sister Ashley were the second set of conjoined twins, fused at the cranium, to survive a separation surgery. When the twins were born, their parents, retired Air Force Col. Aaron Barson and Kathie, traveled from California to the University of Utah, where doctors successfully separated the twins. During the surgery Patricia suffered a stroke and she has limited use of her left side.Ashley also works at the food court, greeting customers, busing trays, keeping the drink station stocked.At the Oct. 16 ceremony, the twins stood, shoulders touching, smiles nearly identical. Ashley said over and over again how she was proud of her sister, and Patricia said that she couldn't live without Ashley.The twins acknowledge that there have been challenges stemming from their condition throughout their lives, but they both are "blessed and honored" to work at Hill. They set little goals for themselves that make every day at the food court a good day."Working in food service is always fast-paced and it can be stressful, but Patricia always has a great attitude. She's one of those people who always knows what to say and makes it great to come to work every day," said Taylor Kipp, Patricia's general manager.The twins will travel with their family to Washington, D.C., later this year where Patricia will be recognized during the annual DOD Disability Awards Ceremony."We're super excited. We've never been to Washington, D.C., before,” Patricia said. “All we can say is 'Thank you' to Hill Air Force Base."aafes 



ACC 



DOD 



Hill AFB Featured News
        Senior Leader Priorities
                DAF leaders talk budget, reoptimizing the force
                    
                    DAF leaders speak at National Character and Leadership Symposium
                    
                    DAF members recognized during BEYA STEM awards
                    
                    DAF senior enlisted advisors discuss Airmen, Guardians in the fight
                    
                    SecAF Kendall AFA Warfare Symposium Q&A: Reoptimizing for Great Power CompetitionInnovation
                AFWERX director discusses role of tech startups, quick innovation in Great Power Competition
                    
                    DAF delivers lethality at the speed of data during Project Convergence Capstone 4
                    
                    DAF welcomes industry partners to HQ development program
                    
                    DAF announces Spark Tank 2024 finalists
                    
                    Chief Digital, Artificial Intelligence Office to host hackathon in HawaiiMAJCOM News
                Safety enterprise announces new mission, vision, goals in 2024 strategic plan
                    
                    Air Combat Command welcomes new commander
                    
                    USAFE-AFAFRICA commander discusses Integrated Air, Missile Defense during Munich Security Conference
                    
                    Flosi to AFMC family: Embrace change, make every day count
                    
                    AMC rises to increasing global tension
 Quick Links
AccessibilityContact UsEqual OpportunityFOIA | Privacy | Section 508Information QualityInspector GeneralJAG Court-Martial DocketLink DisclaimerNo FEAR ActOpen GovernmentOSI Tip LinePlain LanguageQuestionsResilienceRSSSite MapVeterans Crisis LineCareers
Join the Air ForceAir Force BenefitsAir Force CareersAir Force ReserveAir National GuardCivilian ServiceConnect
            Get Social with Us
            
            Official United States Air Force Website
    Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil