Graduate Degree Complete

Finally I have arrived at my ultimate academic goal. On 9 May 2009 I walked across the stage to snatch what I had doubted I could do a few years ago, but I kept stepping, writing, and testing and I achieved it. Master's in International Relations, Webster University.

Lessons Learned Outside of the Classroom

I have been busy with family, work, and school. I start my final class (seminar) in a few weeks, and graduate in May shortly thereafter. It has been a lot of work, but I also met a lot of good people along the way in school. Work wise I have overcome a few obstacles and making progress. Family life has changed a lot, but I'm adjusting to my kids growing up on me, and my wife and I are spending more time together, too, so that's great. When you reach a summit in life and look ahead it seems impossible to get there, but you must keep stepping forward--looking back only reminds you of what you have done, but remember that when you have that same or similar opportunity later--make it better--lessons learned. Now that I have reached all of my long term goals set a few years ago I have to sit down and think about what I want to do now. I've been around the world, had a great career and a new one, but the question now is what journey will satisfy me---shall I go to Washington? I can see it from where I am standing :)

Whew! I see My Educational Summit

I will graduate in May of 2009 from Webster University's International Relations graduate program. I don't believe I will pursue a PhD; however, the decision is not final...there are more than one summit to conquer.

Technical Sergeant Zamounde Allie's Air Force Retirement

Technical Sergeant Zamounde S. Allie, Jr. presented a high level of leadership, and as such, provided excellent support to the airlift mission worldwide. He served as the NCOIC, Contingency Verifications, Global Readiness, and as Channel Mission Manager for Global Channel operations at the 618 Tanker Airlift Control Center (TACC), Scott AFB, Illinois, prior to retiring from active duty after 20 years of service in 2007.

Sergeant Allie grew up in Detroit, Michigan and joined the U.S. Air Force in June 1987. He has performed various duties in civil engineering and air transportation. His other assignments included two CONUS bases in South Carolina, and one in Arkansas. He also served three overseas assignments in England, Korea, and Germany to include temporary duty to Africa to upgrade two runways in support of Cold War operations, Germany for an explosive demolition project, and Italy in support of Operation Joint Guard.

EDUCATION:

1990 Air Force NCO Preparatory school
2000 Air Force NCO Academy
2003 Associate Applied Science in Business Administration & Management/Transportation Mgt, Community College of the Air Force, Maxwell AFB, Alabama
2005 Bachelor of Science in Workforce Education and Development,College of Education and Human Services,Southern Illinois University,Carbondale
2006 Enrolled graduate student/ Masters of Art in International Relations, Webster University, St Louis, Missouri

ASSIGNMENTS:

1. Jun 1987-Aug1987, trainee, Basic Military Training, Lackland AFB, Texas
2. Aug 1987- Sep 1987, student, Pavement Maintenance Apprentice course, Shepherd AFB, Texas
3. Oct 1987- Jun 1990, specialist, 819 RED HORSE Squadron RAF Wethersfield,
England
4. Jun 1990-Jun 1994, crew leader, 437th Civil Engineer Squadron, Charleston, South
Carolina
5. Jun 1994- Jun 1995, crew leader, 554 RED HORSE Squadron, Osan Air Base, South
Korea
6. Jun 1995- Jun 1996, crew leader, 20th Civil Engineer Squadron, Sumter, South
Carolina
7. Mar 1996– May 1996, student, Air Transportation Apprentice course, Lackland AFB,
Texas
8. Jun 1996-Mar 2001, shift supervisor, 314th Transportation Squadron, Jacksonville,
Arkansas
9. Mar 2001- Apr 2003, shift supervisor/training manager, 723 Air Mobility Squadron,
Ramstein Air Base, Germany
10. Apr 2003- Jul 2007, NCOIC/Manager, 618 TACC, Scott AFB, Illinois

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS:

Air Force Meritorious Service medal
Air Force Commendation medal with one oak leaf cluster
Air Force Achievement medal with three oak leaf clusters

OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS:

1990 3rd Air Force Distinguish Graduate NCO Preparatory School
2004 TACC/Global Channel Operations NCO of the Year

2006 Huyser Chapter: Airlift/Tanker Association Award for Contribution to Air Mobility NCO of the Quarter

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION:

Airman Dec 22, 1987
Airman First Class Oct 22, 1988
Senior Airman Jun 22, 1990
Staff Sergeant Jun 1, 1994
Technical Sergeant Feb 1, 2001

Dr. Wright's School Real Men Read and Career Day

I was invited to speak to groups of children at Dr. Wright's elementary school in East St Louis. A lot of strong men turned out incuding the mayor. We had a photo opportunity, and was escorted by a student to our perspective classrooms. I must say that it's been a while since I've been to that level of school to speak. I loved the children's enthusiam and the hundreds of questions that poured from their hearts and minds. It was an honor that drilled deep in my heart to be able to reach out to the young and give them an inside look at life beyond school. I told them a story about people asking me what I wanted to be when I grew up but never telling me how to achieve it. I spoke to them about setting goals,and never giving in to so-called failures because life is one big test. The main point I wanted to address was how to pick careers, lay out a course of action e.g. classes, scholarships, and schools etc...I read to them, spoke about my obstacles and how I refused to accept no from anyone when I knew in my heart that I wanted to do something. I gave examples of my books published etc. I spoke about doors of opportunity and how hard it was to get a key if you did not study life, and read about and find mentors or people who have already done what you want to do. I told them about my travels around the world and how people were the same no matter what color or race. I told them about the man lying in the street near the subway entrance that everyone passed by without notice in New York and in Paris, France. I'm blabbing but after speaking to three classes for 45 minutes each or so and having all the children give a mission statement and announce who they are, where they are from, what they wanted to be, and what they were going to do to achieve it I prepared to leave. I ended with stating that life is a test and they will have to study and read to win. The students applauded me, however, my heart applauded them. We have hope for the future--let's not forget that it takes each and everyone one of us doing our part "each one-teach one".

Tour de Cure Follow-up

Whew! That 50-mile ride was treacherous but fun up in Grafton, Illinois near the Mississippi River. There were some hills that showed me just how conditioned I was for the ride (70%). I managed to pull through well until around the 40th mile when my legs locked up, but fortunately there was a scheduled resting point up the hill: I ate a couple of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, an orange and drank some more water. I was good to go the rest of the final 10 miles. Our team finished in under 5 hours which was good considering we were fighting prevailing winds and hills throughout the ride. We topped 20 MPH on straight-away's, but bogged down to 5 MPH on most of the hills. The final down hill had us a 34-37 MPH which was a reward for the hours of paddling. After the ride we tried to sit and eat hamburgers etc, but the wind had picked up a lot more due to an incoming storm system across the Mississippi so we headed back home. Our total contribution to the American Diabetes Association was roughly $3000.00, and 2,000 plus calories burned. We registered a 5 person team; however, only three of us rode together. One rode the hundred miles, and the other moved out of town prior to the ride. It was all for a good cause plus it gave me a chance to get ready for the next few 25/50 mile rides. The next one in Missouri in August is a tough one that I rode last year (one hill steeply climbs for a straight three miles--you run out of gears and are brought to a walking pace at one point) I hope to do a lot better on that hill this year. I need to turn in my bike though to have it tuned up. The gear that I needed the most slipped out during this ride. Until next year's Tour de Cure...ride hard.

Senator Barack Obamas' Response to my Letter on Economic Development Etc in East St Louis Illinois

Dear Zamounde:

Thank you for contacting me regarding economic development in East St. Louis. You raise some important concerns.

I agree with you that our government needs to devote more time and resources to help communities struggling with unemployment, sprawl, blight, and other ills associated with lagging economic development. I also take sincere note of your point about the effects of underdevelopment on my friends in East St. Louis and the Metro East area.

I am a strong supporter of federal efforts to improve the lives of my hard working constituents in the Metro East, including the many good folks I've met in East St. Louis. I have encouraged the federal Economic Development Administration (EDA) to focus more of its efforts on blighted and underdeveloped communities, and I am a strong supporter of federal job training efforts that would help displaced individuals find new employment. Further, I've voted against legislation such as the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) that was slanted too far in favor of corporate interests but ignored the needs of many of my constituents, including families in East St. Louis. I also secured record levels of funding in last year's national transportation bill that will help individuals in Illinois find good-paying jobs in transportation-related industries.

I will continue with my efforts to fight for working families in the days ahead. As this process proceeds, I will certainly keep your concerns closely in mind. I believe our government has a responsibility to help individuals like you, who are looking to recapture the cities of their youth after a long career spent outside of Illinois. America is certainly a land of opportunity, but we still have much work to do to make sure that the full breadth of that opportunity extends to communities like East St. Louis.

Again, Zamounde, thank you for contacting me. I wish you the best on your coming retirement, and encourage you to contact me again in the future.

Sincerely,

Barack Obama
United States Senator


P.S. Our system does not allow direct response to this email. However, if you would like to contact me again, please use the form on the website: http://obama.senate.gov/contact/

Stay up to date with Barack's work in the Senate and on issues of importance to Illinois. Subscribe to the weekly podcast here: http://obama.senate.gov/podcast/