Ann Avant, the first female non-prior service enlisted Airman at Duke Field, Fla., put a career of nearly four decades of military and federal civilian service behind her as she retired Dec. 4, 2010. The Defuniak Springs, Fla., native launched her career in 1972 when the base's 919th Special Operations Wing was in its infancy. (U.S. Air Force photo by Adam Duckworth)