“Do not be afraid to go after your dreams; a woman can do whatever she puts her mind to. Everything is possible and in reach with a little persistence, determination, and dedication. The sky is “no” longer the limit - sharpen your mind, it is what will get you there,” Law Enforcement Support Assistant Tina Luckett.
What is your primary work focus?
I am happy to support the Service in the Law Enforcement Support Assistant (LESA) capacity by assisting the resident agent in charge (RAC) and special agents (SAs) by being the first reviewer of the Reports of Investigation and entering sensitive data like subject and violation information and property associated to each report into the Law Enforcement Management Information System, which allows the SAs more time to concentrate their efforts on investigative work and cases.
I also handle the more routine aspects of my position like entering leave and overtime requests for the district personnel, submitting travel authorizations and creating vouchers, reconciling credit cards statements, completing the paperwork to purchase and sell vehicles, creating work orders and submitting monthly mileage amounts into the Financial and Business Management System, ensuring property tracking databases are accurate and up-to-date, dealing with cell phone billing issues, renewing undercover license plates, maintaining the district calendar, and submitting the weekly briefing material to headquarters for the RAC district, just to name a few of my duties!
These are just a few things LESAs do on any given day. Let us not forget the continued efforts to be a team player within the region, while helping others solve their daily problems.
The best quote I ever received on a performance review was from the previous Ann Arbor RAC who said, “In the RAC’s 29-year career with multiple local and federal government agencies, I have never seen a more capable, efficient, organized, and professional person working in an administrative role than LESA Luckett.”
Why do you believe your job makes a positive difference?
My job makes a positive difference because "I am the glue that holds everything together."
I am good at anticipating what my manager needs from me before he asks. Waiting to be told what to do is not enough for me; I need to be in sync with him, which makes me shine and be more productive each day. Being aware of things around me and having a positive attitude also helps with the office environment.
My motto is to make sure I am doing my job to the best of my abilities, allowing “my special agents and my one wildlife inspector" to focus on staying safe outside the office, while I handle their small stuff inside the office. According to region’s Assistant Special Agent in Charge, “The burden LESA Luckett removes from our staff is unmeasurable.”
For me, I give all the credit to the OLE staff of the region - without all of their work, I wouldn’t be able to shine. It is all about the teamwork!!!
What was your career path that brought you to the Service?
It all started when I realized I did not have enough money to pay for my college. I began looking for other options, and then a military recruiter walked into my high school. He promised us young ladies “the world,” (being 18 years old and thinking I knew everything at that time) I believed what he told us! For example, my best friend and I joined the military as “military buddies,” and he stated that we would stay together throughout our careers, which was not true at all. We ended up in different countries - I went to Germany, and she went to Panama.
I served six years in the U.S. Army, and it turned out to be one of the best decisions I had ever made for myself. I used the G.I. Bill to pay for my associate’s degree in computer science and I didn’t stop there. I used my own money to pay for a bachelor’s of public administration and a master’s in leadership.
While I was completing my master’s, I worked as an administrative assistant at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library for the National Archives and Record Administration (if you have not been to any of the 14 presidential libraries and museums, you are missing out). It was fun working there, but I realized I needed more action in my life. I saw the job posting for the LESA position, and I applied.
At the time, I didn’t know much about the Service, so I did a quick research, and I was able to connect with another LESA who explained the importance of the position. She walked me through the life of a LESA, and I was interested, so I applied. With everything she told me, along with my prior experiences, and I smashed my interview! And as they say, "The rest is history." I have been a LESA with the Service for 2.5 years now.
What are you most proud of?
The first thing I'm most proud of is the support from my family and friends. I have had a longtime dream of becoming an author, and after 10 years, that dream is coming true. Later this year, my communication book titled, The 7 Friendship Cycles will be released. It has been a long road, but it was worth all of the stress and self-doubt of thinking I am not smart or even good enough to write a best-selling book. (I am just going to put that part out there into the universe right now!)
The second thing I am most proud of is the regional leadership. I have never been in an agency where senior management cares about its employees and their families. I am not sure if they know how much of a big difference this makes, but it makes work so much easier knowing that we will not be penalized to take time off to handle our private lives. Also, I like how quickly the agency responded to the pandemic. Having the option to work from home has been a lifesaver, and the monthly call has been a blessing, as well. Leadership understands that LESAs are there when no one else is, and they show their appreciation every chance they can.
What advice would you give to a young woman who is thinking about pursuing a career with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service?
The advice I will give to a young woman who is thinking about pursuing a career with the Service would be to read everything they can find on this agency, animals, and how to provide great customer service. You will be working with people all the time, and you must know how to interact and connect with everyone.
Don't be afraid to go after your dreams; a woman can do whatever she puts her mind to. Everything is possible and in reach with a little persistence, determination, and dedication. The sky is “no” longer the limit - sharpen your mind, it is what will get you there. Read and write every day because you don't want to lose your two most important skills in the world and you never know where life is going to lead you, just be ready so you may reach your final destination.
- Written by Law Enforcement Support Assistant Tina Luckett
