Barksdale AFB is a vital resource for Bossier. Not only does it contribute to the community as an employer, but it is also a source of potential residents who can use their considerable skills to improve northwest Louisiana.

Aaron Finney is one Airmen who came to Barksdale AFB and decided to lay down roots when he could have gone anywhere.

A native of Minnesota, Aaron started his Air Force career as an aircraft maintainer at Mountain Home AFB, Idaho. He was stationed at Barksdale AFB in 2007 until he retired last year.

When the time came to separate from the military, Aaron wanted to continue what he was doing with the innovation group at the 2nd Bomb Wing. 

“I was basing my future around my degree in emergency management. I was looking at DHS, FEMA, the FBI or another government agency,” he said. “I got lucky that the Cyber Innovation Center (CIC), an innovation partner of Air Force Global Strike Command, offered a SkillBridge position that would give me a taste of working in an innovation field until my separation from the Air Force was complete.”

He said the stars aligned when CIC was establishing an Innovation Lab and needed a manager. This scratched his itch to keep finding innovative solutions for the Air Force. 

“I like computers and I’m a 3D printing hobbyist,” Aaron said. “Continuing to help the Air Force, through CIC’s prototyping and design process, is important to me. This is a more robust version of what I was doing at the 2nd Bomb Wing because we have the means and partners to create something that improves the lives of Airmen.”

His wife, Shera, was a meteorologist stationed at Barksdale AFB. A native of Louisiana, she was in favor of staying because she already appreciated the area’s food, people, and laid-back nature. 

But the real deciding factor was their children.

“We have four kids, and we wanted stability for them,” Aaron said. “Bossier has good schools and we didn’t want to disrupt their education.”

“We might have stayed for our kids, but we’re established here and happy to be a part of the community. So, we’re definitely staying,” he added.

AJ Winslow is a colleague of Aaron’s, working at the Cyber Innovation Center (CIC). A native of northern California, AJ started his career at Aviano Air Base, Italy, in 1999. He didn’t arrive at Barksdale AFB until his last change of duty station in 2022. 

When AJ retired this year, he wanted to find something that suited his strengths for leading people and helping teams achieve their full potential. A way he knew he could do that is through project management.

AJ’s role as a project manager at the CIC gives him the opportunity to have a critical support role for the Air Force, even though he may not wear the uniform anymore or go on base every day.

“I have spent most of this year preparing for my next role outside the military. By networking in the community and through my church, I found an opportunity at the CIC, and it was the perfect situation for me,” AJ said.

While he and his family love Bossier because it’s safe, quiet, and offers an easy commute, the real impetus for them staying in Bossier is because of his church. 

“My faith fuels me. I am heavily involved in the men’s and musical worship ministries at my church and my wife is very involved in the children’s ministry,” AJ said. “Seeing how quickly we were embraced by the church and how they desired for my family and I to remain a part of the community, it was pretty clear that we would stay here.”

Similar to Aaron, AJ also wanted to settle in Bossier for his children. He said his wife, who he described as an “amazing partner in crime,” went all in on homeschooling his three children. 

“There’s a great homeschool community in Bossier that allows homeschooled students to be involved in academic activities, traditional extracurricular activities, and even sports. We want them to be a part of that,” he said.

While his faith and children are the reason he stayed, AJ is hoping to make the most of the career opportunity he’s been presented in Bossier. 

“This gives me the chance to give back to the Air Force, and I see a lot of potential for the CIC to benefit the Air Force through innovation and partnerships with industry and academia,” he said.

“I’m incredibly excited to be a part of that.”