TUCSON, Arizona -- Darlene Roberts single-handedly makes protocol happen for the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group.
Darlene joined the AMARG Team in 2010. During her 34 years of DoD service, Darlene circled the globe serving as a protocol officer for Air Force, Army, and Marine Corps Generals and Navy Admirals in such far-flung places as Korea, Japan, and Panama before coming to AMARG.
Not a week goes by at AMARG that Darlene isn’t elbow-deep in arranging all aspects of visits, orientations, and ceremonies for the myriad distinguished visitors who come to America’s National Airpower Reservoir.
People who know her say her secret superpower is her ability to get people to do things they don’t want to do. In fact, her true secret is her integrity.
"Do the right thing when nobody’s looking,” she says.
Never far from a laugh, when Darlene jokingly told the AMARG staff she was “registered at Tiffany’s” for a birthday one year, they showed up with a multi-colored rhinestone-studded cane and a pink feather boa.
When asked the most memorable visit she coordinated, Darlene said it was when Larry the Cable Guy came to AMARG. “He is just a really down-to-earth guy,” she said. “Super-personable. Oh, and that’s a fake southern accent,” Darlene laughed. “He told me he’s from Nebraska.”
When Darlene isn't coordinating orientations for high-level visitors, she loves to take a breather with an ice-cold Starbucks coffee.
The mountains surrounding Tucson also provide one of Darlene’s favorite things to do, hiking to Seven Falls in the Santa Catalinas. “It’s nine miles out and nine miles back,” she said.
Darlene also loves her pets: her Malshi, Axl. “You know, after the Guns n’ Roses guy,” Darlene says. Then there’s her Rottie-mix, Rocket and don’t forget the four cats: Arya (“Game of Thrones,” Darlene chimes in), Sebastian, Ezio (“The lead guy from Assassin’s Creed,” Darlene again.) and Boudicca. “She was the ancient queen of the Britons who stood up to the Roman Empire!” Darlene noted.
Most of all, Darlene loves her husband, Rob, and cherishes her children and grandchildren. “They’re my greatest accomplishment,” she said.