Charleston court reporter named best in AMC, Air Force
"Winning this award is a good feeling," she said. "It's like receiving a pat on the back, a thank you and hearing 'job well done' all at once."
Abernathy was recognized for her accomplishments as a court reporter and for helping make the 437th AW military justice program the fastest and fairest in AMC. In a banner year, Abernathy and Charleston Air Force Base, S.C., were number one in AMC for court processing completion times and were recognized as having the best administrative discharge program.
Charleston AFB handled 72 Article 15s and 55 administrative discharges in 1999, and Abernathy helped maintain a 100 percent processing rate, number one in AMC for all time standards.
Abernathy is a major factor in why the Charleston AFB legal office is one of the best in the Air Force, said Maj. Marge Overly, 437th AW deputy staff judge advocate.
"Dee is a true team player who has a big impact wing-wide. She is always a willing volunteer, ready to take on the next new challenge," Overly said. "She is a superstar court reporter whose work is simply invaluable to the military justice, admin discharge and employment/labor law arenas."
As a court reporter, Abernathy transcribed more than 100 hours of court time, resulting in preparation of the Record of Trial and on-time action by the convening authorities involved. She also handled two pretrial confinement hearings held at the Charleston Naval Brig.
She's transcribed trials for people with charges ranging from drunk and disorderly conduct to rape. "Though some of the cases really bother me, I cannot let the job get to me personally," she said. "I get satisfaction from doing my job and knowing that I did my part to get criminals off the streets."
Overly said, "Dee has volunteered to record and transcribe hearings we hold where an independent investigator from the Department of Defense investigates Equal Employment and Opportunity complaints. These can sometimes last the entire day."
The AMC and Air Force awards also recognized Abernathy's contributions to off-duty programs, such as the Charleston-based Victim & Witness Assistance Program, which she was personally selected to head.
She runs all aspects of the program, to include notification of impending prisoner releases and coordinating with all government agencies to determine benefits available to victims harmed by Air Force members.
Abernathy said she's honored by the award and sees it as another benefit to doing what she loves. "There aren't many people who can say they like what they do and that they enjoy going to work everyday, but I can." (FROM AIR MOBILITY COMMAND PUBLIC AFFAIRS).
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