U.S. General Services Administration
A legacy of military service
by Rich Stebbins
For the 24th year in a row, Region 8 honored its veterans during an hour-long event on November 6 at the Denver Federal Center as well as virtually.
Highlighting the event were two extraordinary female military leaders who spoke about their service and the legacy that is the hallmark of their careers.
Colonel Sandie Pynes, a Texas Air National Guard pilot with 20 years of service, and Chief Master Sergeant Sharma Haynes, active duty U.S. Air Force with 21 years of service, provided inspiring remarks.
Pynes is a Texas native currently living in Castle Rock, Colorado. Her role in the Texas Air National Guard is the Director of Operations, Intelligence and Communications at Camp Mabry, Texas where she advises the Adjutant General and provides oversight in support of state activations and all other domestic operation missions.
“Some of the most rewarding aspects of my service is knowing what we do on a day to day basis. Even when we’re not out fighting a war, we are still helping our community constantly,” said Pynes. “I will say in my time as a service member. I’ve always seen really great respect from people and I can’t ever say ‘Thank You’ enough.”
She has flown for more than 20 years on 10 different types of aircraft. Another legacy for Pynes is leading the first all-female flight crew for a C-130 Hercules aircraft as part of the 136 Airlift Wing in June 2021.
“To me, the legacy is the people, it is the people that I lead now as a commander and it is the people that we serve,” Pynes added. “If we care about the people, if we really care about this nation, then that’s our first goal, that is our legacy.”
Haynes’ military role is different but no less important. She is currently the principal advisor to the installation commander at Buckley Space Force Base on all matters concerning morale, welfare, training, command, climate, readiness, and professional development for more than 1,000 personnel at 14 operating locations world-wide.
She credits her parents for her desire to serve. They challenged the high school honors student to look at what is important to her. Haynes decided on a path in the military and her legacy is continuing a long history of service in her family that includes both of her grandfathers, multiple uncles and her sister.
“My parents instilled in me the values of higher education and public service,” said Haynes. “I enlisted during the Operation Enduring Freedom conflict and understood how service could impact my life.”
Haynes said that while she enlisted right out of high school, her service did not truly begin until she deployed to Kabul, Afghanistan. While in that combat zone, where she walked around with weapons or flying around the country in a Black Hawk helicopter, is when she truly realized what service meant and how much she loved the military.
“My passion for service to our great nation continues to grow with every assignment and opportunity to lead, inspire, and elevate the next generation of service members. As we navigate new territory,” Haynes added.
The audience got a chance to ask each of the speakers questions about their service and legacy.
Each in their own way agreed that legacy is not something tangible but what you leave behind, it happens in people, military or civilian, with every connection and every interaction.