Warrior of the Week: Airman 1st Class Nikolai Smirnoff

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Susan L. Davis
  • 319th Air Base Wing Public Affairs


Name and rank:
Airman 1st Class Nikolai Smirnoff

Unit: 319th Comptroller Squadron

Duty title: Civilian pay technician; Automated Time, Attendance and Production System administrator

Time in service: 2 years

Time at Grand Forks: 1 year, 2 months

Hometown: Yekaterinburg, Russia, then later Minneapolis, Minn.

Why is serving in the Air Force important to you?
It made me an independent person and provides me with the discipline to better myself.

What moment or accomplishment as a Warrior of the North are you most proud of and why?
I am most proud of being responsible for implementing a new pay system being used by more than 500 civilian employees and military members.

What is your favorite part of your job?
I love meeting new people and helping them out, while providing quality service and receiving positive feedback for my work.

Who inspires you and why?
My inspiration comes from a deep-rooted desire to succeed and make my family proud.

What's the first thing that made you think Grand Forks Air Force Base was a cool place other than the temperature or weather?
Grand Forks Air Force Base is cool because it's close to my second home in Minneapolis.