PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN TINKER AIR FORCE BASE AND LANGSTON UNIVERSITY, PROMISES JOBS

Planes undergoing maintenance and overhaul are shown at Tinker Air Force Base. KC-135R Stratotankers in various stages of overhaul on the Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center flight line March 9, 2017, Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma. OC-ALC is responsible for maintenance, repair and overhaul of the entire C-135 fleet. (U.S. Air Force photo/Greg L. Davis)

It’s a collaboration with Tinker Airforce base and Langston University, that is sure to make a difference for both groups for years to come.

“Right now, we’ve built a bridge through all this partnership and it’s going to be lamented in stone for our kids and grandkids,” said Langston alumni and Tinker employee, Wendell Graham.

Tinker air force base is the state’s largest single site employer, with over twenty-five thousand employees. Close to ten thousand of those being civilian workers. “We have folks that have been working here over four decades, and they have been able to not only start their careers but evolve their careers over time,” said Lt. General Stacey Hawkins. The Langston alumni employed at Tinker have been working for internship opportunities for Langston students.

“Prepared ourselves, prepared our speeches to tell them why this partnership would be great and what it has done for us in our careers,” said Alyssa Alford, Langston Alum and Tinker employee.

“We want to be an option that if you’re from Oklahoma and you want to live, work, play, and pray here in Oklahoma, Tinker Airforce base is for you,” said Lt. General Hawkins.

After about a year of talks the partnership was made official. “Have internships, to learn more about the operations of the sustainment center and to really augment what they are learning in the classroom in a real-life setting,” said Langston interim president, Ruth Ray Jackson. Tinker has always done internships with colleges that mainly focus on STEM. “We’re expanding that and we’re casting the net to include business majors, supply chain management, folks who specialize in installation management like environmental sciences, but also product management,” said Lt. General Hawkins. “But we believe that it will help us achieve our goal of creating opportunities beyond college,” said Jackson.

Keith Hardiman is a Langston grad who knows firsthand what these opportunities mean.

“Upon graduation, came into the Airforce as civil service, and now at the pentagon and continue the works of the Airforce,” said Keith Hardiman, Langston alumni. For the Alumni association it’s about having success and reaching back to help others.

“I’ve been here nineteen years; I came straight from Langston and L’s up you know how it goes,” said Graham. “As we like to say at Langston, Langston from here to the world,” said Hardiman.

According to Lieutenant General Hawkins the internships will start immediately which means this not only impacts future students it will have an impact on current students as well.