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“Honestly, I wanted to take over his business and his management spot,” said Headlee. However, the Defender ultimately decided upon the Air Force and Security Forces.

“I was thinking more about something that would benefit me, and develop me — and also, I knew would get a lot of cool experiences along with the benefits,” said Headlee. “To this day, I still believe the Air Force is one of the best options anybody can do, honestly. The Air Force has so much to offer. Take it from me: At 19 years old, I had been to England, Cypress, France, Poland, Germany — traveling the world. Also, I’m a person who best functions with structure. When I have set tasks given to me by leadership, or by my supervisor, that I have to accomplish — I have greater success.”

Helping him make the decision to join the Air Force, were students and friends he went to high school with in Ohio.

“There were four of us, one from my class and two from the class who graduated before me,” said Headlee. “I did a lot of research on my own, but I had others who had already joined who I could ask questions about their initial experience. And here I am, and I absolutely love it — and so does my wife.”

Headlee’s wife is also in Security Forces, currently stationed at Kunsan Air Base, South Korea. Kunsan AB is one of two major USAF installations operated by the U.S. Forces Korea.

When asked how the Air Force has changed him for the better, the Schriever SFB Defender had a lot to say.
“The military has instilled a ton of discipline in me,” said Headlee. “When I was younger, I wasn't the most obedient kid. I remember having a sit-down conversation with my parents about what I want do with my life and what I want to accomplish in my twenties and into my later years, and — believe it or not — I said would like to get some discipline. I’ve learned a lot about myself and how I work.”

Senior Airman Evelyn Gorder, 50th Security Forces Squadron, BDOC controller — is Headlee’s supervisor, and had this to say about him as an Airman and person:

“Senior Airman Headlee is an extremely important part of our mission as a BDOC controller,” said Gorder. “His responsibility is command and control over all posts and patrols that protect our Space Force assets here at Schriever. With his knowledge, attention to detail and incredible work ethic, Senior Airman Headlee is more than qualified to perform such an important duty for the U.S. Space Force. I appreciate all the work he does — not only as an Airman, but as a person. He truly is a wingman. Everyone knows that if they need anything work-related or outside of work, Headlee is the one to call. He has always shown a passion for helping others and truly cares about the people around him.”

The work Headlee and fellow Defenders from the 50th SFS perform is vital to the garrison, USAF and USSF missions. In order to maintain motivation and resilience, the Defender has a phrase he reminds himself of daily.

“A quote that inspires me is simple yet meaningful: ‘Win the day,’” said Headlee.
“This quote was, and still is, said by my father who is my biggest role model and motivator. For me, ‘win the day’ means the small tasks you complete to make your day successful or the kind word that made someone smile, the positive motivation you give to others or the positive mindset you place within yourself, the actions you take to pull yourself out of a negative mindset or how you respond to various situations. ‘Win the day’ means taking the actions that I need to take to be the best Airman that I can — every day."

Additionally, the Schriever SFB Defender believes in perseverance.

“Nothing is impossible if you put your mind to it, honestly,” said Headlee. “Anyone can do anything that they want, as long as they have the motivation and dedication.”

The new website is less complicated than CCDJFS’s previous website so that visitors can locate the services and information they need faster – including OhioMeansJobs workforce services, financial and health assistance, child support, and family and children services, including adult protective services.

The website also features CCDJFS news, posts from the agency’s Facebook page, CCDJFS job opportunities, and links to email addresses for submitting applications and paperwork for services – to help those who prefer the convenience of online access.

Cox adds that the website also offers easy access to Champaign County’s Prevention, Retention and Contingency (PRC) plan and program application. PRC provides a wide range of temporary assistance to help qualified low-income families gain self-sufficiency.

Also on the website, CCDJFS is debuting a new logo. The logo reflects the scope of the agency’s services and the people it serves, Cox says. While the agency’s previous logo featured a stylized family – father, mother and children – the new, abstract logo symbolizes the agency’s broader reach, which includes single-parent families, senior citizens, children, as well as businesses and their employees through workforce development services.

Cox adds that the logo borrows from the colors CCDJFS uses in its annual awareness campaigns – blue, for child abuse prevention; purple, for elder abuse awareness; and green, for child support and fraud prevention.

“The logo interweaves the different programs and the different people we serve – not just families,” Cox said.