Albert Einstein once said, “in the middle of difficulty, lies opportunity.”
For Filipino-American Colonel Shirley S. Raguindin, the chief diversity officer for the Air National Guard (ANG), this quote sums up how she’s overcome obstacles in her life.
From joining the Air Force to leaving home, Raguindin said while always mindful of her roots. She’s always looked forward and hurdled over any difficulties her way.
“Look forward to the future but never forget where you came from. Establish and achieve the highest expectations and goals for yourself and don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t do it,” she said in an email to theAsian Journal.
“Most importantly, never doubt yourself, your capabilities or ever give up.”
Awards and accolades
Raguindin is one of the most well-decorated Filipinas serving in the US military. Among her long list of distinguished career and military accomplishments include, first recipient of the Filipina Women’s Network 100 Most Influential Filipinas in the US award; Air Force Meritorious Service Medal, 4th oak leaf cluster; Global War on Terrorism Service Medal; Joint Services Meritorious Service Medal; National Defense Service Medal with one bronze star; and many, many more.
Education and career
Currently, Raguindin is the chief diversity officer to Lieutenant General Stanley E. Clarke, Director of the Air National Guard.
She is responsible for the strategic direction, implementation and alignment of the guard’s integrated global diversity and inclusion initiatives to achieve the highest state of military readiness to over 106,000 Airmen and civilians.
The 48-year-old Raguindin is a military lifer.
Born and raised in Waipahu, Hawaii, Raguindin served as the Detachment 175 Air Force ROTC commander at the University of Hawaii, Manoa where she was a distinguished military graduate and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Meteorology.
Her parents, Isabelo and Maria, are originally from San Ilocos Sur Norte, Philippines.
Upon graduating, she was commissioned a Second Lieutenant and began active service in the US Air Force in 1986.
She later earned a Masters degree in Public Administration from the University of Oklahoma.
Time in the military
Looking back, she said her decision to join the military was not an easy one.
“I was always reminded by my parents and friends that the military was for men only, despite receiving a letter of endorsement to the US Air Force Academy by Senator [Daniel] Inouye,” she said.
Adding to that difficulty was moving away from home. Military life required her to be away from her comfort zone, away from family and friends. Oklahoma is nothing like Hawaii.
But she took the time away from her family to learn about herself and travel the world.
“I used the time to take advantage of the continuous learning environment to work with people, to gain leadership skills, and to understand new cultures by traveling to several countries like Japan, Philippines, Korea and Italy. I missed my family in Hawaii but always kept touch via telephone, letters and the internet,” she said.
During her time in the military, Raguindin has been hailed for her work on diversity initiatives and programs. It is something she cares deeply about.
As she describes it, “Attracting and recruiting a diverse workforce is important because changing demographics today and in the future. Also today’s military operations are executed in complex, uncertain and rapidly changing environments. Men and women representative of the US populations and with different skills, experiences and backgrounds are needed to respond to new and emerging threats.”
Losing herself, in service of others
Aside from her work in the military, she also serves as vice president of communications and publications for the Pan Pacific American Leaders and Mentors. She also mentors youth in high-risk schools.
“I learned a long time ago to find myself, I needed to ‘lose myself’ in the service of others,” she explains. “We are all born with a purpose to leave a legacy and I honor those who have worked hard and sacrificed everything to allow us to live a better life for our families, our communities and for generations to come.”
She said what keeps her going is a feeling of gratification when helping someone out.
“The most rewarding feeling is to see how individuals, units and states improve personally and professionally. I am a firm believer that one person can make a big difference — and seeing it happen, one at a time, on a national level is the most gratifying reward,” she added.
Having achieved so much in her career, and overcoming adversity, she looks forward to helping and mentoring others.
“It is important to me to always make a difference no matter where I am in my career, to reach out and mentor youth so they are aware of the incredible opportunities offered not just in the military, but in state and/or federal government as public servants,” she said.
(www.asianjournal.com)
(LA Weekend March 23-26, 2013 Sec. A pg.10)
