HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. – Col. Paula Reele, military deputy director for Cyber and Networks Directorate and the engineering senior site functional for the Engineering and Technical Management Directorate, was promoted to colonel during a ceremony here July 31.
Reele’s three daughters pinned on the new rank before she took the stage to reflect on the experiences that shaped her leadership philosophy.
“I decided early on that no matter how long I serve, whether that be four years or more, I would put my best into every assignment,” said Reele.
She said some of her greatest professional growth came from being entrusted with significant responsibility early in her career, even when she didn’t feel fully prepared. Those experiences, she said, strengthened her confidence and leadership skills.
As military deputy director to the Cyber and Networks portfolio acquisition executive, Reele supports the leadership and execution of one of the Air Force’s largest acquisition portfolios.
As engineering senior site functional for the Engineering and Technical Management Directorate, she supports talent acquisition, development, and management of the center’s engineering and technical workforce at Hanscom AFB.
Brig. Gen. Joshua Williams, recently named the portfolio acquisition executive for Command, Control, Communications and Battle Management, presided over the ceremony and praised Reele’s commitment to both the mission and her people.
“It’s not because she needs the spotlight,” he said. “It is because she is doing her job. Paula puts everything she has into her job.”
Reele recently relinquished leadership of the Cyber and Network’s Special Program Division, Advanced Technology Branch, where she served as materiel leader.
“I talked at my change of leadership a couple weeks ago about those I've led,” she said. “I'm so thankful for the trust provided, the laughter, candid feedback and all the challenges we got through to deliver meaningful results.”
The ceremony also included a reaffirmation of the oath of office. Williams took time to explain the significance of the tradition and its connection to military service.
“This is the most important tradition the Air Force has,” he said. “Every word of it means something. Military service is bigger than the individual.”
The Cyber and Networks Directorate is headquartered at Hanscom AFB. With more than 2,400 personnel, the directorate is responsible for developing, acquiring, deploying and sustaining a $21 billion portfolio of cyberspace, communication and cryptologic network capabilities to connect warfighters with affordable and secure systems.