BUCKLEY SPACE FORCE BASE, Colo. -- Maintaining a military installation's readiness in today's complex world demands more than just drills and gear. It requires strategic planning, responsible resource management, and a dedicated workforce. At Buckley Space Force Base, one individual plays a crucial role in ensuring our Airmen and Guardians are ready for any mission.
Born and raised in Evergreen, Colorado, 1st Lieutenant Clarence Robertson has served as the Financial Analysis deputy flight commander at the 460th Comptroller Squadron for two years.
His path to the U.S. Air Force pays homage to the service of his family members, which planted the seed for him to commission. That seed took root during his time at Colorado State University, where he discovered the opportunity to commission through the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps.
Joining as a financial analyst, Robertson has found himself filling the role of deputy flight commander for Financial Analysis. On any given day, he finds himself managing an award-winning team while overseeing a roughly $110 million annual operations and maintenance budget, ensuring mission success for Space Base Delta 2 and Mission Delta 4.
“The people I get to work with in my unit are extremely competent and skilled at DoD Financial Management,” said Robertson, “They care deeply about mission success and delivering the best financial service that they can.”
In addition to his duties as a deputy flight commander, he has also assumed the role of Unit Deployment Manager. As the UDM, he's the first person Airmen and Guardians turn to when they have questions or concerns regarding deployments and readiness. He handles everything, from ensuring personnel have the right gear and training to providing the necessary information they need to prepare them for their mission.
“Filling a deployment tasking is often one of the more stressful things our members are tasked with.” Robertson explained. “If, as a UDM, I can make this experience steadier for personnel, I consider my efforts to be a success.”
Looking ahead, Robertson's ambition is clear: to continue learning and growing within the U.S. Air Force. He's committed to gaining valuable experience, advancing his education, and seeking out opportunities to broaden his understanding of the service. This dedication stems from his belief that readiness is fundamental to military service.
"If we, as a force, are not actively pursuing proficiency on requirements like medical currency, training proficiency, or overall lethality, we will no longer be equipped to respond to tragedy," explained Robertson.
It’s this dedication to preparedness, at both the individual and organizational levels, that ensures the U.S. Air Force remains a ready and reliable force, capable of meeting any challenge, anytime, anywhere. From managing multi-million-dollar budgets to ensuring deployment readiness, Robertson embodies the multi-capable airmanship that is essential to maintaining the U.S. Air Force's commitment to global security.