From battlefield to boardroom, extraordinary leaders leave an indelible mark on everyone they meet. This week, we witnessed one such moment when our very own Lt Col Sarah Williams (Ret.) stood before a hushed audience at St. Leo University, draped in a handcrafted quilt that tells a story of service, sacrifice, and unwavering dedication to duty.
The prestigious Quilts of Valor ceremony recognized Lt Col Williams for her exemplary military service. Each stitch in her ceremonial quilt represents countless moments when she went above and beyond the call of duty. These meticulously crafted quilts are reserved for those rare individuals whose service transcends ordinary expectations, becoming beacons of inspiration for future generations.
We at FireWatch Magazine have always known Sarah as a force of nature – a colleague whose strategic insights and unwavering integrity have enriched our pages and our lives. But watching her receive this distinguished honor reminded us that before she was our trusted colleague and dear friend, she was a warrior who devoted herself to protecting our freedoms.
The entire FireWatch family stands proud today, not just because one of our own has been recognized with this prestigious honor, but because we have the privilege of working alongside a true American hero who continues to inspire excellence in everything she does.
About Sarah C. Williams
Sarah Williams was raised in Grand Marais, Minnesota, a small town of 1,200 people on the shores of Lake Superior. In the 8th Grade, she decided she wanted to join the military, and thanks to a great guidance counselor in high school, she was encouraged to apply to a service academy.
She was commissioned a Second Lieutenant at the United States Air Force Academy in 1997 with a Bachelor of Science in Management and, in 2000, a Master of Science in Organizational Human Resource Development from Abilene Christian University. She set her sights on serving in a position working with people and chose aircraft maintenance. Throughout the first half of her career, she served in a variety of aircraft maintenance positions spanning five Major Commands and deployed in support of Operations NORTHERN and SOUTHERN WATCH, JOINT FORGE, IRAQI FREEDOM, and ENDURING FREEDOM. Before retirement, Sarah was a logistics planner for the United States Special Operations Command. Sarah is a lifetime Logistics Officer Association and Air Force Association member.
She is active in the local community in the National Defense Industrial Association, Women in Defense, The American Legion, Global Special Operations Foundation, K9 Partners for Patriots, and The Humane Society of Tampa Bay. She is on the advisory panel for the Military Aviation Logistics and Maintenance Symposium. She is the Director of Sales and Community Engagement at firewatchmagazine.com. She lives in Tampa, Florida, with her German Shepherd Dogs, laze and Lucky. Fun fact: she thinks jumping out of airplanes is much more fun than flying in them.
sarah@firewatchmagazine.com
linkedin.com/in/sarah-williams-usaf