167th HazMart manager is career field expert

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Jodie Witmer
  • 167 AW/PA
Master Sgt. Ronnie Dailey didn't think his military career would extend past his initial enlistment after raising his right hand on Jan 9, 1981.

Dailey began his career as a traditional guardsman working in the supply warehouse, but received an in jest "eviction notice" from Senior Airman Christopher Tusing on July 1, 1997. The "eviction notice", which is currently framed on a shelf behind Dailey's desk, was an informal way of wishing him "good luck" at his new position in the first Air National Guard HazMart.
Dailey, the hazardous materials pharmacy (HazMart) manager in the Logistics Readiness Squadron at the 167th Airlift Wing, is not only an asset to the 167th, but also to other ANG units, the Air Force and the National Guard Bureau because of his expertise in the HazMart career field.

"My job is control and accountability of all chemicals that come on the installation," Dailey said.

Dailey said there are 1,200 different HazMart items in inventory.

Lt. Col. John Poland, commander of the Civil Engineer Squadron at the 167th AW, said that Dailey has every 13 digit stock number for every chemical in the HazMart memorized.
 
According to Poland, inspectors have come into the HazMart and quizzed Dailey's vast knowledge of stock numbers after a coworker brings it up to them to showcase Dailey's skill. Dailey may be off by a number sometimes, but he will definitely impress you with his ability.

Dailey said he started the HazMart position as an additional duty in 1996. At that time, there was no database for him to use; he used spreadsheets to keep track of everything from grease and oil to general office cleaning supplies.

Dailey said he is not a spotlight person and just does his job to the best of his ability.

Capt. Blake Bennett, environmental manager in the Civil Engineer Squadron at the 167th AW, said, "He is very humble, you can tell him how good of a job he has done and he just says, "I'm just doing my job."'

Dailey said he has helped or trained many of his counterparts in the active Air Force and other ANG bases. The National Guard Bureau has also leaned on Dailey's expertise to help improve the HazMart program.

"Everyone is striving to accomplish a level of management that he (Dailey) has at this wing," Poland said.

Bennett said, "No matter where I've gone for different trainings, they've seen where I'm from and they say 'Oh, you work with Ron Dailey, that's who we call when we have a question.'"

Bennett said that he has been at the National Guard Bureau and heard people say "I tell everyone if they want to run a HazMart, they better call Ron Dailey."'

Dailey also has a reputation for not just helping those in his career field, but anyone that needs it.

Poland said he noticed Dailey helping cut wood with some people one time and asked him, "Do you burn wood Ronnie?" and Dailey replied "No, No I just like helping people out."

Dailey is the kind of guy that even outside of the wing he has the willingness to help others, Poland said.

"You want to see more people like him and his willingness to help," Poland said.

Dailey has completed 400 drills as an LRS member and has only had to reschedule eight drills during that time. During his time as HazMart manager, he has built a positive reputation for the job he does, as well as being known as someone that is willing to lend a hand if it is needed.

According to Dailey, he has been very lucky to work with some "amazing and professional" environmental mangers. Col. Rodney Neely, Lt. Col John Poland, Capt. Blake Bennett and Capt. Terrence Etuk have all been supporters of the HazMart program and supported Dailey when he started to improve the HazMart program.