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      SecAF lauds 50 years of federal serviceSecAF lauds 50 years of federal service
                        
                        
                        Secretary of the Air Force Barbara Barrett speaks to Laura Gourgas, officer promotion manager at Hanscom Air Force Base, Mass., on the phone to congratulate her 50 years of service with the Air Force Nov. 9. (U.S. Air Force photo by Lt. Col. Justin Brockhoff)
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res

SecAF lauds 50 years of federal servicePublished Nov. 16, 2020
                    
                    By Mark Wyatt
                    
                    
                    66th Air Base Group Public Affairs
            **HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. (AFNS) --****Secretary of the Air Force Barbara Barrett** called to congratulate Laura Gourgas, a longtime federal civilian employee at **Hanscom Air Force Base,** Nov. 9 for her five decades of service to the Air Force.Gourgas, an officer promotion manager, spoke about what the phone call meant to her.“It was quite an honor to get a phone call from Secretary of the Air Force Barrett to recognize my 50 years of federal service,” she said. “I love the Air Force; to hear from her, I couldn’t ask for more.”Gourgas started her career at then-Hanscom Field on Nov. 9, 1970, after graduating from Mount Ida College in Newton, Massachusetts.She attributes her lengthy career to the lessons her father taught her as a child.“My Dad instilled the Air Force core values in me long before I knew what the Air Force core values were,” Gourgas said. “Integrity was foremost in my upbringing. I see that in the Air Force and I tried to make that one of my bottom lines.”Throughout her lengthy career, Gourgas has worked in many different areas on base and held many positions in the military personnel career field. She said working officer promotions for the former Electronic Systems Center was her favorite assignment.“It was really important work for the officers across the Electronic Systems Center,” she said.Throughout her career she’s been recognized many times for her outstanding work, including winning senior civilian of the year for the then-66th Air Base Wing and ESC in 2000.Gourgas feared that when she hit the 50-year milestone, the expectation would be for her to retire.“While speaking to the Secretary, I mentioned that I hope I can serve many more years,” she said. “I have had the honor to work with some incredible people throughout my career and hope to continue that for many more years.”Raul Martinez, who supervises “Mrs. G,” as she’s affectionately known, spoke about what she means to the Military Personnel Flight team.“Mrs. G is the epitome of excellence, professionalism, dedication and honor,” he said. “She is so passionate about her job and taking care of the Airmen.”Col. Katrina Stephens, 66th Air Base Group commander, highlighted the noteworthy achievement of 50 years and having Secretary Barrett contact Gourgas.“Laura Gourgas has had and continues to have an important role in the careers of so many Air Force officers,” Stephens said. “Having worked with each other earlier in our careers, I cannot express how proud I am of her achievement and recognition by Secretary Barrett.”When asked what was next, Gourgas said she has no plans to retire.“Retirement really isn’t in my vocabulary,” she said. “I enjoy being mentally engaged. I would like to continue serving the Air Force for years to come.”FWN 



USAF 



AF 



Air Force 



SecAF 



Secretary of the Air Force 



Barbara Barrett 



federal 



Service 



civilian 



achievement 



recognition 



Hanscom AFB 



AFMC 



Air Force Materiel Command 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