The good 'doctor' is in

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Ebony Nichols
  • 917th Wing Public AFfairs
Barksdale AFB, La. --  When there is a sneaky little cyber something batting away all incoming e-mails so they don't make it to the inbox; a giga monster eating a file that was surely saved; or smoke coming from a "fire" wall on a deployable laptop, who is the person to call? The computer doctor, of course.

For one Air Reserve Technician, 'computer doctor' has become more than just a coined phrase. Staff Sgt. Kirk Williams, 917th Communications Flight, completes his doctorate degree in psychology this month. 

An Air Force Reservist for 17 years, and an ART for the past three, Sergeant Williams has been furthering his education since 1988. Even then, he knew where he wanted his path of education to lead.

"That (receiving his doctorate) has always been my goal," Sergeant Williams said. "I stopped in between (classes), but a doctorate has always been where I wanted to end up."

"What ever I do, I strive to reach the top," he said. "It's the top, and it epitomizes educational pursuit."

In addition to the doctorate degree in Psychology, Sergeant Williams also has a masters in business administration and an undergraduate degree in finance.

Sergeant Williams' quest to be the best is also apparent in his job performance and seen by his superiors.

"I've never seen anyone as willing and as dedicated as Kirk," said Colonel Kevin Wolfe, Mission Support Group Commander. "It hurts him when he doesn't have a chance to help everyone. There just are not enough hours in the day for Kirk to do what he has to do."

Sergeant Williams responds to computer and network issues for the entire wing. He and his team do it all, from configuring email to replacing computers and equipment.

"The biggest obstacle I had to overcome was time, because I work full time," said Sergeant Williams. "Family obligations were a factor also. I have two kids in college."

Although Sergeant Williams has reached the peak of education in the Psychology field, he has not finished learning.

He has a case study to be completed by May 2008, and he is working toward achieving more certifications to accompany his duties as a Reservist.

Those certifications and Ph. D. in Psychology will not just be bragging points or office decorations for this driven individual.

"I have more educational goals," Sergeant Williams said. "I would like to teach computer forensics." Computer forensics is the study of information and identity theft and computer hacking.

"I want to study the psyche behind why people do it," he said. "We may be able to reduce it (theft and hacking) if we know what causes it. I want to teach from the behavioral aspect. "

Sergeant Williams is interested in this civilian career field for the same reason he shows up for every unit training assembly and does his best as an ART.

"I come here and do my job because I think I can make a difference somewhere," he said. "That's my goal with computer forensics also."

His family has encouraged him to propel to the doctorate level.

"My biggest motivations are my son (deceased) and my father," he said. "My father is a great man and I respect him a lot."

Another motivational factor is "I above all try to make those to people proud of me," said Sergeant Williams.