HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. -- The installation has a new violence prevention integrator, Dr. Abigail Cutter, who started here Aug. 2.
The VPI’s chief responsibility is creating a primary prevention program for interpersonal and self-directed violence, including domestic violence, child abuse, sexual assault, sexual harassment, and suicide.
“The Air Force is focusing on primary prevention,” said Cutter. “This essentially means how do we build a community that feels responsible for one another and to make changes to prevent violence from occurring?”
Cutter is a social worker with a master’s degree in social work and a doctorate in business administration. She brings years of experience to the position, having previously served as a civilian with the Air Force and the Army within the Sexual Assault Prevention and Response, Community Service, and Violence Prevention programs.
“Before joining Team Hanscom, I worked for the U.S. Army at the Natick Soldier Systems Center (Massachusetts),” she said.
Cutter also spent seven years in Hawaii in a variety of roles, including the deputy program manager for SAPR and Violence Prevention Programs at Hickam Air Force Base.
Cutter said that she is looking forward to getting out and meeting leaders, Airmen, and family members to see how she can best assist them in their prevention and intervention efforts.
“Something I’m hoping to do in the next few weeks is schedule office calls with the different command and leadership teams and offices,” said Cutter. “I want to talk to folks and see what their challenges and best practices are and how I can best provide support.”
She said primary prevention takes awareness of interpersonal and self-directed violence a step further by transforming awareness to action by proactively making changes to behaviors and cultures to prevent violence in the first place.
“I’ll be working closely with base agencies, commanders, and other leaders to promote a sense of community and respect so that we can reduce the behaviors that lead to interpersonal and self-directed violence,” she said.
The VPI position also includes being the Suicide Prevention Program Manager for the installation.
“Suicide Prevention Month is coming up in September,” said Cutter. “We are working to get a couple of different skill-building events and activities on the calendar. Then October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and we are planning further collaboration with base agencies to support change efforts.”
She can be reached at abigail.cutter@us.af.mil
For more information on base helping agencies that support military members of all services and Department of Defense civilians, visit the Hanscom Helping Organization (H2O) Webpage or the Hanscom Community Connections Facebook page.