Warrior of the Week: Staff Sgt. Charles Danowski

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Ryan Sparks
  • 319th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
GRAND FORKS AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. --  Name: Staff Sgt. Charles Danowski

Unit: 319th Medical Support Squadron

Duty title: Medical Laboratory Technician

Time in service: 6 years

Time on station:  2 years

Hometown:  Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Why is serving in the Air Force important to you?
I feel a great sense of pride working alongside some very inspirational individuals and walking in the footsteps of all those that have served before me.

What moment or accomplishment as a Warrior of the North are you most proud of and why?
I don't have a particular accomplishment I'm more proud of than another, but I am very proud to be a part of the Laboratory team here. We have a group of amazing Airmen of all ranks doing big things for the Medical Group. 

What is your favorite part of your job?
The Laboratory here is much smaller than my previous base, so I get a lot more oversight on patient testing from start to finish which gives me a good sense of purpose. The Lab being so small allows us to take the time to interact with patients on a daily basis and to listen to some of their personal experiences from around the world. 

How do you apply the wing commander's principles of 'passion, proficiency and professionalism'?
I try to dabble with the 'three P's' by answering every phone call and greeting every patient with a friendly smile and following up with our outsourced  testing to ensure correct and timely results to expedite patient care.

Who or what inspires you and why? 
My co-workers, both past and present inspire me every day. The Air Force has afforded me the opportunity to work in a very diverse environment, which I believe has helped me gain a valuable perspective on life. 

What's the first thing that made you think Grand Forks Air Force Base was a cool place other than the temperature or weather? 
The Grand Forks AFB Sportsman's Club! I grew up hunting and fishing in Wisconsin and the Club here really allowed me to network and helped keep me motivated to continue that passion in North Dakota and Minnesota.

Do you have any military service family members or anyone close to you that has served? If so when and where did they serve?
Both of my Grandfathers served during WWII as aircraft mechanics, my father retired from the Air National Guard as a Civil Engineer and my sister served 4 yrs as armament out of Nellis AFB, NV.