Warrior of the Week: Dawid Michal Mludzik

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Zachiah Roberson
  • 319 ABW/PA
GRAND FORKS AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. --  
Name: Senior Airman Dawid Michal Mludzik

Unit and Job: 319th Civil Engineer Squadron structural craftsman

Time in Service: 3.5 years

Time at Grand Forks: 3 years

Hometown: Psary, Poland

Why is serving in the Air Force Important to you?
As a first-generation Polish immigrant, enlisting in the U.S. Air Force was the least I could have done for this country. During World War II, the U.S. along with Allied forces helped liberate Poland from Nazi occupation. If it hadn't been for this movement, Poland as well as other countries in Europe would have fallen under the Nazi regime. I now have the honor to wear that same uniform which set foot on Polish soil and helped free my countrymen from an evil tyranny.

What accomplishment as a warrior of the North are you most proud of and why?
When I arrived at the base it was almost desolate; fruitless but still fertile. The last tanker left just months before and the Warriors of the North were blessed with a new mission. We received word on the arrival of the Global Hawk platform and we began reconstructing the base from ground-zero to accommodate the new tenant. It was a challenging task, but the Warriors of the North did what we do best. We are now one of two main operating bases for the Global Hawk and the future looks bright for Grand Forks Air Force Base in my opinion. That's my proudest accomplishment, and I get to share it with the great men and women who made this mission happen and keep it going. The future looks promising for the Warriors of the North and the progressive advancement of UAV systems. We can truly call ourselves pioneers of unmanned aerial aviation.

What is your favorite part of your job?
Being a structural craftsman in 319th Civil Engineering Squadron gives me the ability to use my creativity in the work place. Every day is different in this career field. We get to remodel thousands of square feet of office space; we try our best to stop the "never-ending" roof leaks after the six-month freeze, we get to break in to mission-critical safes, and we practice the art of masterful welding. You give us a task and we'll make it happen. I truly love my job as I fall into the small percentile of people who actually enjoys coming to work on Monday.

Who Inspires you and why?
I try to find inspiration from everyone that surrounds me. Everybody has something to bring to the table and I make sure my table is always set for new ideas. "Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people." - Eleanor Roosevelt

What's the first thing that made you think GFAFB was a cool place other than the temperature or weather?
I couldn't have been stationed at a better place than Grand Forks. After my enlistment I plan on persuing a degree in aeronautics. With the University of North Dakota being one of the top schools in aviation and space studies, I found myself in the right place at the right time.