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Zelk makes 188th history as first female colonel with promotion to 0-6

  • Published
  • By 1st Lt. Holli Nelson
  • 188th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
FORT SMITH, Ark. --  The 188th Fighter Wing reached another historic milestone on March 1, 2014, when then-Lt. Col. Misty Zelk was promoted to the rank of colonel during an official promotion ceremony held at Ebbing Air National Guard Base. This marks the first time in the unit's rich, 60-year history that a female has achieved the grade of O-6.

Zelk serves as the 188th Medical Group commander. She received high praise from the man who hired her, Col. Mark Anderson, 188th Fighter Wing commander.

"I know this is a proud moment for the 188th and the Zelk family," Anderson said. "Col. Zelk is an outstanding role model for leaders across the wing. But we didn't promote her because she is a woman or to make history. We promoted her because she is a superb officer who empowers her Airmen. Col. Zelk is without question deserving of the rank of colonel. I look forward to her counsel as she takes the 188th Medical Group to new heights."

Zelk offered a humble message during her promotion ceremony speech. She talked about selfless sacrifice and mentorship.

"Your family will deal with you being gone a lot more than a weekend a month and weeks every year," Zelk said. "Never take their sacrifice for granted. By the time you make it to colonel, you will realize the bigger picture. It's not about you; it's about your people and your responsibility to them and for them."

Zelk was commissioned in 1995 in the Army National Guard, serving with Detachment 4 Med at Camp Joseph T. Robinson, Ark. She deployed to Iraq in 2005 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, serving with both the 39th Infantry Battalion and the 1065th Medical Company.

Zelk assumed command of the 188th Medical Group in August of last year during a change of command ceremony. She was also the 188th Medical Group's first female commander. She came to the 188th from the 189th Medical Group, located at Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark.

Zelk's career has been intertwined with the 188th for many years prior to her current position at the unit and has served beside many of the Airmen here during her career.

Working alongside her medical counterparts in Guatemala and during Hurricane Katrina relief in Louisiana, Zelk felt a strong connection to the 188th and the Air Force.

"I credit the 188th with my Air Force career, and with the fact that I'm even still in the military today," Zelk said. "So it seems fitting that my military career culminates here."

Inclement weather and a unit training assembly cancellation forced the delay of the promotion ceremony, so it was a happy coincidence that the historic occasion took place during Women's History Month. The official Federal recognition date of the promotion is Jan. 15, 2014. During the ceremony, Zelk looked over the path her career had charted, and offered advice to her younger self.

"You think you're going to get yourself where you want to be in life," Zelk said. "You're going to find out that you can't do it alone. And where you end up is better than what you had planned originally."







Zelk makes 188th history as first female colonel with promotion to 0-6

  • Published
  • By 1st Lt. Holli Nelson
  • 188th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
FORT SMITH, Ark. --  The 188th Fighter Wing reached another historic milestone on March 1, 2014, when then-Lt. Col. Misty Zelk was promoted to the rank of colonel during an official promotion ceremony held at Ebbing Air National Guard Base. This marks the first time in the unit's rich, 60-year history that a female has achieved the grade of O-6.

Zelk serves as the 188th Medical Group commander. She received high praise from the man who hired her, Col. Mark Anderson, 188th Fighter Wing commander.

"I know this is a proud moment for the 188th and the Zelk family," Anderson said. "Col. Zelk is an outstanding role model for leaders across the wing. But we didn't promote her because she is a woman or to make history. We promoted her because she is a superb officer who empowers her Airmen. Col. Zelk is without question deserving of the rank of colonel. I look forward to her counsel as she takes the 188th Medical Group to new heights."

Zelk offered a humble message during her promotion ceremony speech. She talked about selfless sacrifice and mentorship.

"Your family will deal with you being gone a lot more than a weekend a month and weeks every year," Zelk said. "Never take their sacrifice for granted. By the time you make it to colonel, you will realize the bigger picture. It's not about you; it's about your people and your responsibility to them and for them."

Zelk was commissioned in 1995 in the Army National Guard, serving with Detachment 4 Med at Camp Joseph T. Robinson, Ark. She deployed to Iraq in 2005 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, serving with both the 39th Infantry Battalion and the 1065th Medical Company.

Zelk assumed command of the 188th Medical Group in August of last year during a change of command ceremony. She was also the 188th Medical Group's first female commander. She came to the 188th from the 189th Medical Group, located at Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark.

Zelk's career has been intertwined with the 188th for many years prior to her current position at the unit and has served beside many of the Airmen here during her career.

Working alongside her medical counterparts in Guatemala and during Hurricane Katrina relief in Louisiana, Zelk felt a strong connection to the 188th and the Air Force.

"I credit the 188th with my Air Force career, and with the fact that I'm even still in the military today," Zelk said. "So it seems fitting that my military career culminates here."

Inclement weather and a unit training assembly cancellation forced the delay of the promotion ceremony, so it was a happy coincidence that the historic occasion took place during Women's History Month. The official Federal recognition date of the promotion is Jan. 15, 2014. During the ceremony, Zelk looked over the path her career had charted, and offered advice to her younger self.

"You think you're going to get yourself where you want to be in life," Zelk said. "You're going to find out that you can't do it alone. And where you end up is better than what you had planned originally."