October 2009

NNeewwss ’’nn VViieewwssNNeewwss ’’nn VViieewwssDepartment of Workforce Services Arkansas Workforce Investment BoardVolume 6, Issue 1

• See Awards Page 6

OPEN HOUSE — The Arkansas Workforce Center at Little Rock held an open houserecently. Local politicians, including Little Rock Mayor Mark Stodola, attended. The cen-ter, which houses the Employment Services, Unemployment Insurance and WorkforceInvestment Act programs, relocated to 5401 S. University.

Job with State Department sends him around world with stop in Iraq

Three employershonored for hiringmature workers

• See Center Page 4

Pat Hamilton returns to DWS

• See Hamilton Page 7

Center at LRmoves, holdsopen house

The Arkansas Workforce Center atLittle Rock recently held an open house atits new location.

The center, which moved to 5401 S.University, now houses the EmploymentServices, Unemployment Insurance andWorkforce Investment Act programs.

“All of the Workforce Center partnersare together again at one location, allow-ing us to better assist central Arkansas res-idents who are looking for jobs or want tomake a career change,” said DWSDirector Artee Williams.

Besides center staff, local politicians

The Arkansas Workforce InvestmentBoard and Department of WorkforceServices partnered with the Governor’sWork-Life Balance Initiative for the secondyear in a row to recognize three Arkansasemployers for their dedication to hiring andretaining mature workers (those age 50+).

Bank of the Ozarks, which won theMature Worker Friendly Award for a secondyear, the Arkansas Educational TelevisionNetwork at Conway and Saline MemorialHospital at Benton were honored this yearat a ceremony held at the Peabody Hotel inLittle Rock.

“All three companies recognize the needto keep mature workers in the workforce,”said DWS Director Artee Williams. “Theirleadership is evident in their policies andpractices that ensure a work-friendly envi-ronment for Arkansas’ older population.”

The Mature Worker Friendly Award isone of several awards given out at theannual Governor’s Work-Life BalanceAwards, which are presented each year toemployers who have policies and practices

When Pat Hamilton, now an assistantcontroller in the Financial Managementunit, retired from the Department ofWorkforce Services seven years ago, lit-tle did he know his new career wouldeventually land him in a war zone.

Hamilton retired from DWS inSeptember 2002 as the assistant directorfor Financial Management to pursue acareer as a federal financial foreign service officer for the U.S. StateDepartment.

Hamilton said he liked adventure andalways loved to travel, so the job withthe State Department was a great oppor-tunity.

After spending two months inWashington, D.C., for training,Hamilton’s first assignment was inCharleston, S.C., where he worked twoyears at the Regional Financial Center,which provided support for the WesternHemisphere.

Hamilton then spent two months inBangkok, Thailand, and landed his firstpermanent international assignment atthe American Embassy in Quito,Ecuador, in South America.

Hamilton said he and his wife, Brenda,loved Quito, which is a Spanish-speak-ing country. The communication barrier,however, proved to be a little difficult atfirst.

“I didn’t know how to call a taxi or aplumber,” Hamilton said. “If we got the

Pat Hamilton

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New unit investigates UI wage fraud cases

CEREAL DRIVE — Doris Martin (l to r), Essie Courtney, Luvenia Ross and Gladys Canadyfrom the Ground Floor in the Central Office, stand next to the 264 boxes of cereal theGround Floor collected for the 10th Annual Summer Cereal Drive sponsored by Today’sTHV for the Arkansas Food Bank Network. The Central Office collected 712 boxes and 585pounds of cereal and cereal items for the cause. The Ground Floor collected the most cere-al and was recognized with a pizza party.

APAC HONORS — Seven Department of Workforce Services employees received man-agement certificates recently from the Arkansas Public Administration Consortium: (front, lto r) Donna Westbrook, Belinda Hodges and Brian Pulliam; (back, l to r) Sharon Stringer,Delores Hall, Shirley Johnson and Jammel McCuien.

Seven Department of WorkforceServices employees recently received man-agement certificates from the ArkansasPublic Administration Consortium.

The consortium is part of the Universityof Arkansas at Little Rock’s Institute ofGovernment and is a cooperative programof UALR, Arkansas State University atJonesboro and the University of Arkansasat Fayetteville.

APAC provides training and educationfor managers and leaders from the publicand nonprofit sectors.

The Arkansas Governmental ManagerProgram is the state certification of theCertified Public Manager Program andrequires the completion of six two-daycourses and a project plan.

The AGM program also is one of theprerequisites for the DWS LeadershipDevelopment Program, an 18-month pro-gram that enhances management skillsacquired through AGM.

AGM graduates include JammelMcCuien with the Dislocated Worker-Trade Adjustment Assistance unit.

The Certified Public Manager Programis the national certification. Individualsmust first complete the AGM program andthen complete five additional two-daycourses, 146 contact hours and successful-ly pass a national test.

CPM graduates are Delores Hall,Belinda Hodges, Shirley Johnson andBrian Pulliam, all with the OccupationalCareer Information unit, Sharon Stringer

with the Transitional EmploymentAssistance and Work Pays programs atBlytheville and Donna Westbrook with theTEA program at Forrest City.

Seven DWS employees receive APAC honors

To streamline unemployment insurancefraud investigations, DWS created a newunit called Fraud Investigations, Recoveriesand Enforcement, or FIRE.

In the past, the Benefit Payment Controland Automated Adjudication System unitsinvestigated all potential unemploymentinsurance fraud cases. These included caseswhere people receiving UI benefits reportedthat they were able and available for workwhen they were not, or they reported nowages earned when actually they hadearned money.

The FIRE unit now handles the investiga-tions of all wage-related fraud cases fromthe beginning through prosecution.

The creation of the new unit, which han-dles fraud cases involving more than$1,300, gives BPC investigators more timeto investigate nonfraud cases or cases thatrarely lead to prosecution. It also allowsstaff to devote more time to work withemployers, prosecutors and local office staffto determine whether or not fraud has beencommitted.

Pat Warbritton, a UI investigator, cameup with the idea for the unit as part of herproject plan for the DWS Leadership IIProgram.

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Phil Harris was recently named theassistant director for the TemporaryAssistance for Needy Families program.

“I am pleased toannounce that Phil hasaccepted the director posi-tion of the TANF pro-gram,” DWS DirectorArtee Williams said. “Hehas solid credentials andwill be a wonderful addi-tion to our senior manage-ment team.”

The TANF program is designed to helpneedy families become self-sufficient. Theprogram in Arkansas is comprised ofTransitional Employment Assistance,Work Pays, the Career Pathways Initiativeand the Community Investment Initiative.

Harris earned a Bachelor of Arts inBusiness from Philander Smith Collegeand a Master of Business Administrationfrom the University of Arkansas at LittleRock.

He has served as the TANF projectadministrator and provided staff supportfor the TANF Oversight Board since join-ing DWS in 2007.

Prior to working for DWS, Harrisworked in business and economic devel-opment at UALR and served as an adjunctfaculty member. He has numerous awardsand certifications for his work in educa-tion and economic development.

Jeff Arens was recently selected as man-ager of the Rogers office.

Arens has been withDWS for 14 years, startingin the Fayetteville officewhile attending theUniversity of Arkansas atFayetteville.

Arens began his careerat DWS as an EmploymentServices interviewer at the

Rogers office. Two years ago, he transferred to the

Fayetteville office, where he worked in

Amber Mullis was recently selected asmanager of the Russellville office.

The Russellville office providesemployment-related serv-ices for Pope, Conway,Yell, Johnson and Perrycounties.

Mullis began workingfor DWS on March 3 andsaid she loves her job andis enjoying learning newprograms.

“I am blessed to work with some of thebest DWS staff in the state,” she said.

Prior to working for DWS, Mullisworked for the Department of HumanServices for 31 years. She was a countyadministrator for Drew County for 21years and a Yell County administratorprior to coming to DWS.

She has a Bachelor of Arts in SocialWork from the University of Arkansas atFayetteville, received the Director’sLeadership Award for the Division ofCounty Operations at DHS and also wasnamed Woman of the Year by the DrewCounty Chamber of Commerce.

Mullis said one of her favorite quotes is,“Someone’s good fortune is not your mis-fortune.” She said it helps you appreciatewhat you have.

Wilma Gill was recently named as areaoperations chief for Area VII.

As AOC, Gill oversees the management

Phil Harris

Phil Harris

Wilma Gill

Jeff Arens

Amber Mullis

Jeff Arens

New assistant director, managers recently namedand programs at five localoffices: Arkadelphia, Hope,the Hope Migrant FarmLabor Center, Malvern andTexarkana.

She has worked forDWS since Dec. 1, 1976.

Prior to being named asan AOC, Gill was the localoffice manager at Arkadelphia.

She previously was an unemploymentinsurance program supervisor at LittleRock and Arkadelphia, a workforce spe-cialist and worked with special programsprior to the creation of the WorkforceInvestment Act.

In addition to working for DWS, Gillalso briefly worked for the Department ofHuman Services and taught high school inArkadelphia.

She is a graduate of the CertifiedEmployment Manager Program.

“I was cut out for this job,” she said.“It’s really not about the pay for me; it’sabout the customers that we serve.”

Wilma Gill

Amber Mullis

both the ES and Unemployment Insuranceprograms prior to being named manager atRogers.

Other than work, Arens has a commer-cial pilot license and said he mostly justflies for fun now.

His favorite quote is, “When life getsconfusing, stop and listen to the music.”

Get in the Game, Workforce Summit set for NovemberIt’s that time again to Get in the Game -

the game of entrepreneurism!For the second year in a row, DWS will

host the Get in the Game EntrepreneurialConference at Verizon Arena in NorthLittle Rock.

The event, which targets those interestedin starting their own business or expandingan existing one, will be held from 8 a.m. to3:30 p.m. Nov. 3. Workshops about busi-ness planning, startup tips, financing andmarketing will be held throughout the day.

“Entrepreneurism is a form of self-employment,” DWS Director ArteeWilliams said.

More than 50 exhibitors will be on-handto provide information, and attendees alsowill have the opportunity to visit with suc-cessful entrepreneurs to learn best prac-tices.

In addition to the entrepreneurial confer-

ence, DWS isalso hosting theGet in theGame CareerExpo, whichwill be heldfrom 9 a.m. to2 p.m. Nov. 4.

“With thesetough econom-ic times, we also want to take every oppor-tunity to connect employers with job seek-ers who have the skills required by thoseemployers,” Williams said.

About 50 exhibitors, including employ-ers and education providers, will be at theexpo to accept resumes, answer job appli-cants’ questions, conduct interviews on-site and discuss career education and train-ing opportunities. A mini-WorkforceCenter also will be on-site to provide

resume assistance and interviewing tips.Finally, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Nov. 5,

DWS will sponsor the Arkansas WorkforceSummit, a one-day conference that pro-motes the relationship between education,economic development and the workforce.

Employers, community leaders, electedofficials, government employees and eco-nomic developers are encouraged toattend.

Several workshops, including how toretain Arkansas’ businesses, how to utilizeDWS services, apprenticeships and thebenefits of hiring mature workers (age50+), will be held throughout the day.

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DWS receives honor from veterans

AWARD — Ricky Young, the local veter-ans’ employment representative at FortSmith and State Employment Officer forthe Disabled American Veterans (left),presents the LVER of the Year award toRussell Cook, an LVER at Searcy (right),at the DAV State Convention held recently.

The Department of Workforce Serviceswas honored as Employer of the Yearrecently at the Disabled American VeteransState Convention.

“We are honored to receive this award,”said DWS Director Artee Williams.“Veterans deserve our respect and support,and we are dedicated to meeting theiremployment needs.”

DWS was selected from many employ-ers statewide for its commitment to hiringveterans and providing necessary tools toassist them in their employment search.

Also at the convention, Russell Cook,the local veterans employment representa-tive at Searcy, received the LVER of theYear award.

Cook assists veterans with finding

employment and provides outreach toemployers to showcase the value of hiringveterans.

In addition to the awards, several DWSemployees were elected to state DAV posi-tions. John Donovan, a former disabledveterans’ outreach program specialist atConway who now works for theDepartment of Labor Veterans’Employment and Training Service, waselected senior vice-commander, which isthe first in line of succession to the statecommander.

Ricky Young, the LVER at Fort Smith,was elected to second junior vice-com-mander, and Joseph Didden, an LVER atMountain Home, became the stateemployment officer.

SUPPORT FOR VETERANS — Jesse Boyd, a local veterans’ employment representativein Russellville (center), and Ricky Young, an LVER at Fort Smith (right), present a letter ofappreciation and certificate of support to Johnny Story with River Valley Radio (left) for thestation’s continued support of veterans. The awards were sponsored by the DisabledAmerican Veterans Chapter 27 in Russellville.

Centerincluding Little Rock Mayor Mark Stodolaattended the open house. A ribbon-cuttingceremony with the Little Rock Chamber ofCommerce also was held.

In addition to DWS and the Little RockWorkforce Investment Board, which over-sees the WIA services, other center partnersinclude the Central Arkansas DevelopmentCouncil, Arkansas Department of HumanServices, Arkansas Rehabilitation Servicesand Little Rock Adult Education.

About 150 staff work at the center andprovide services including employment andunemployment insurance services, dislocat-ed worker services, services to veterans,Transitional Employment Assistance, utilityassistance, Medicaid and SNAP (foodstamps) assistance, rehabilitation services,adult education services and ArkansasCareer Readiness Certificate assessments.

The center has 56 self-service computersclients can use to apply for services, PellGrants or to prepare resumes. There alsoare an additional 48 computers used fortraining and CRC assessments.

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JOB SHADOWERS — Children and other relatives of Departmentof Workforce Services employees recently participated in the DWSJob Shadowing Day at the Central Office. This year, the event waslimited to eighth-graders and older. About 20 children attended the

event. Besides shadowing their relatives, participants toured thebuilding and received information about the Real-Life ArkansasWeb site, Stamp Out Smoking program, and other agency pro-grams and services.

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NEWS . . . . across . . . . the . . . . stateCENTRAL OFFICE — JessicaMoye, the daughter of Danny andLynn Moye, attended Girls State atHarding University in Searcy this sum-mer. She is a senior at Lutheran HighSchool in Little Rock.

The Office of Information Serviceswon the 2009 State Employees CoedSoftball League and the end of the sea-son tournament held at Benny CraigField in Little Rock. The league wascomprised of teams from various stateagencies. DWS team members wereSara Williford in Disbursements andDanny Moye in the Benefit AccuracyMeasurement unit.

Andrea Latrice Barksdale, a UI budgetspecialist, has completed the course-work for her master’s degree in man-agement and leadership from WebsterUniversity.

Maurice Porchia, a senior softwaresupport analyst in the InformationTechnology unit, recently graduated

from the LeadershipArkansas Programthrough the ArkansasState Chamber ofCommerce. The pro-gram consists of eightleadership developmentclasses from Septemberto June.

CONWAY — Kimberly Phillips, thegranddaughter of Cindy Phillips, a UIinvestigator in Conway, had artwork

that was selected for display at theYoung Arkansas Artists exhibit at theArkansas Arts Center. Kimberly is nowa first-grader at Marguerite VannElementary School in Conway.

Phillips’ son, Justin Phillips, came homefor a visit. He is a Marine stationed atCamp Pendleton, CA.

EL DORADO — Adrienne J. Green, thedaughter of Lillie L. Green in El Dorado,graduated from the University ofArkansas Medical Center in Little Rockwith a doctorate degree in pharmacy.

JONESBORO — Stacey Harvey, aTEA case manager in Jonesboro, chairedthe City Youth Ministries LeadershipProject, a Jonesboro Jaycees project thatteaches leadership skills to teens fromlow-income families. Harvey has been amember of the Jaycees for five years,has served as vice-president of commu-nity development and won severalawards.

MONTICELLO — Terence RobersonJr., the son of Gaye Roberson, an inter-viewer at Monticello, recently won the2009 Cutest Baby Contest in his divi-sion, 2- to 3-year-old boys, at theBradley County Pink Tomato Festival.He also is the nephew of Kim Jones inPersonnel.

Ashlyn Crawford, the daughter ofLindsay Crawford, an interviewer, wonthe 2009 Cutest Baby Contest in herdivision, 3- to 4-year-old girls.

Miranda Cox, an interviewer, recentlygraduated from the University ofArkansas at Monticello with a bache-lor’s degree in business administrationand management. She also recently mar-ried Mike Reynolds.

Mandy Lowry Kinnaird, the daughter ofPam Lowry, an AAS satellite supervisor,recently graduated from the Universityof Arkansas at Monticello with aBachelor of Science in Nursing.

Tamara Paige, the daughter ofGwendolyn Arrington, an interviewer,recently married Herman Riddle atWaukegan, IL.

Lisa Trantham, the daughter of NancyTrantham, a document examiner, recent-ly married Ben Sheppard at MagnetCove, AR.

AWARD — Elizabeth Roberts, managerat the Walnut Ridge office (right), acceptsan Outstanding State Employee Awardfrom Judy Beatty, the president of theArkansas State Employees Association(left), recently at ASEA’s 41st AnnualConvention and Awards Banquet held inHot Springs.

Felicia Leaks-Broughton, an interview-er, recently graduated from theUniversity of Arkansas at Monticellowith a bachelor’s in computer informa-tion systems.

Antonio Wherry, the son of FlorenceThomas, an interviewer, recently gradu-ated from ITT-Technical Institute withan associate degree in computer net-working.

PINE BLUFF — JaniceRoberts, a managementproject analyst forEmployment Assistance,recently graduated fromthe Leadership PineBluff program. The nine-month program helpsparticipants build leader-ship skills that will benefit Pine Bluffand Jefferson County.

TeYasha Smith, the granddaughter ofDorothy J. Oliver, with the TrainingUnit stationed in Pine Bluff, and WalterOliver, manager of the Little Rockoffice, recently graduated fromMcClellan High School.

WALNUT RIDGE — Auggie Wicker,the son of Andrea Wicker, an AAS inter-viewer in Walnut Ridge, wrote a poemthat was chosen by the ArkansasCouncil of Teachers of English and theLanguage Arts to be published in theArkansas Anthology 2009 literary maga-zine. The magazine features some of thebest writing by Arkansas students andtheir teachers.

Maurice Porchia

AWARD — Janet Edgar, acting man-ager at the Hot Springs office (left),accepts an award recently from RickGreen, with the Department of Defense(right). The National Committee forEmployer Support of the Guard andReserve recognized the Hot Springsoffice as a patriotic employer.

Janice Roberts

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MATURE WORKER AWARDS — Gov. Mike Beebe presents theMature Worker Friendly Award at the Governor’s Work-LifeBalance Awards ceremony recently at the Peabody Hotel in LittleRock. Pictured with Beebe are the winners: George Gleason, CEOand chairman of the board at Bank of the Ozarks (top left photo);Tony Brooks, deputy executive director and COO at the ArkansasEducational Television Network (top right photo); and RandyFortner, CEO at Saline Memorial Hospital (bottom right photo).

in place to help employees balance the needs of both work and fam-ily.

Because Arkansas and the rest of the nation will experience a hugelabor shortage in the next 10 years as the baby boomers retire, theAWIB partnered with AARP and other agencies in 2006 to create theArkansas Mature Worker Initiative. The initiative is an awarenesscampaign designed to educate employers about the need to keepmature workers in the workforce and to connect them to matureworkers through the Arkansas Workforce Centers.

“Mature workers are a valuable resource to employers in Arkansasand across the country,” Williams said. “They are dedicated, loyaland reliable.”

Initiative activities include presentations to employer organiza-tions, participation at job fairs and the development of the matureworker awards. Because of initial efforts, Arkansas was selected bythe National Governors Association Center for Best Practices as oneof eight states to participate in a policy academy to explore ways tokeep the mature population in the workforce or active through vol-unteerism.

The year-long policy academy resulted in ideas for future outreachefforts, which will include a tool kit for employers, a Web site formature adults and training for agency staff.

RetirementsAlice Rowe, Management Project Analyst,UI Technical Unit, Dec. 31, 2008Gail Williams, Secretary, Internal Audit andSecurity, Dec. 31, 2008Jean McIntosh, Program Support Manager,TANF Monitoring, Jan. 31, 2009Sherry Jones, Management Project Analyst,UI Technical Unit, Feb. 28, 2009Jack Hammell, DWS UI Claim Technician,Non-Mon Pilot Project, Feb. 28, 2009Ruthie Pippins, Management ProjectAnalyst, Employment Assistance, March 13,2009Versie Lee, DWS Interviewer, Marianna,March 27, 2009Carolyn Green, Document Examiner,

Blytheville, April 30, 2009Charles McGowan, DWS Interviewer, ForrestCity, April 30, 2009Christopher Sherman, DWS Interviewer,Camden, April 30, 2009Shirley Humberson, DWS ProgramSupervisor, West Memphis, April 30, 2009Mae Rosby, Administrative Assistant,Employment Assistance, May 29, 2009Sammye Smith, DWS Claims Adjudicator,Federal Programs, May 31, 2009William Cobb, DWS Interviewer, WestMemphis, May 31, 2009Marvin (Buddy) Warbritton, DWS FieldManager, Hot Springs, June 30, 2009Carolyn Troutman, DWS ProgramSupervisor, Jonesboro, June 30, 2009

James Cottrell, DWS Workforce Specialist,Forrest City, July 14, 2009Margaret Hudgins, DWS ProgramSupervisor, Mena, July 31, 2009Freddie Chambless, DWS Field TaxRepresentative, Field Audit, Aug. 31, 2009

DeathsAnn (Harriett) Pottorff, a retired interview-er in El Dorado, died Dec. 21, 2008.Clarence E. Copeland, a retired manager atMalvern and Arkadelphia, died Jan. 18, 2009.Jeanie Oberle, program operations managerfor UI Contributions, died Feb. 2, 2009.Kathleen Reed, a retired interviewer atBatesville, died Feb. 17, 2009.

plumber there, we didn’t know how to tellhim what to do.”

While in Quito, Hamilton lived in anapartment located on an active volcano -Pichincha. Although ash would blow outsome of the time, no lava flowed.

“It would rumble some,” he said. “Ialmost got shaken out of bed one night.”

While Hamilton’s wife worked withmissionaries, he managed a $13 to $14million budget, which included payroll,paying the bills and procurement.

Many of the modern conveniences fromhome were there as well, includingAmerican banks and restaurants, such asApplebee’s, TGI Friday’s and BurgerKing.

After completing his time in Quito,Hamilton said the State Department want-ed him to return to the United States. Thedepartment had installed a new accountingsystem and needed him to train staff inAsia, Central America, Europe and Africa.

Hamilton said he would travel for two tothree weeks and would then be back fortwo to three weeks. After one year,Hamilton said he had been to 20 countries.

It was his final international assignment,however, that proved to be the most dan-gerous. A friend of Hamilton’s was finish-ing up his assignment in Baghdad, Iraq,and convinced Hamilton to replace him.The State Department has a mandatoryretirement policy at age 65. Hamilton hadonly one year left before retiring anddecided to head to the war zone.

“I was tired of traveling,” Hamilton saidabout his previous assignment.

Hamilton, one for quite an adventure,also knew the pay for going to Baghdad

would be excellent. It was the 40 pounds of protective equip-

ment that included a helmet and steel-plat-ed, bulletproof vest that really got hisattention, though.

“That’s kind of when you start to won-der, ‘What am I doing here?’” he said.

After flying to Jordan, the U.S. militarythen transported Hamilton aboard a C130cargo plane to Baghdad. From there, hewas put on a metal-plated bus called aRino with other American workers andtaken to the Green Zone, where the U.S.Embassy was located.

Hamilton’s office was located in one ofSaddam Hussein’s Republican Guard

palaces. Chandeliers still hung in theoffices and marble floors were throughoutthe building.

Hamilton’s living arrangements, howev-er, were quite different. In Quito, Hamiltonrented a 3,000 square-foot penthouseapartment. In Baghdad, Hamilton lived ina FEMA trailer not much bigger than anoffice, not to mention the difference inscenery.

“The part of the city I was in, thereweren’t any places that hadn’t been hit,”he said. “It was just destroyed.”

Hamilton went from working 40 hours aweek in Quito with a staff of 14 and amulti-million dollar budget to working 10to 12 hours a day, seven days a week inBaghdad with an almost unlimited budgetand, at one point, only one other staff per-son.

“Nobody wanted to come there, for onething,” he said.

Because Iraq’s banking system had beendestroyed, Iraqi money was of no value.American money was used, and moneytransfers were done the old fashioned way.

“The only way to move money was tocarry cash,” Hamilton said.

Besides giving money to pilots whodelivered it to the proper destination,Hamilton also oversaw the condolencepayments to families of Iraqis accidentallykilled. He also monitored the transfer offunds to the Regional Response Teamslocated all over Iraq. Money was given tothe teams to provide educational andhealth services for the Iraqis and to rebuildthe infrastructure.

“Everyday something would come upthat you never heard before,” he said.

Although being in the Green Zone was alot safer, danger did lurk nearby.

“You never went out of the Green Zone

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Hamilton continued from Page 1

unless it was absolutely necessary,” hesaid. “When you did, you had to wearyour protective gear and were escorted bysecurity personnel in three armoredSUVs.”

When Hamilton did have to travel, it lit-erally seemed like a foreign country tohim.

“A lot of times you didn’t know whereyou were,” he said. “You just hoped thedriver did.”

Hamilton said the second week he wasthere 30 mortar rounds came into the zoneone night. Because the bunkers were eightto 10 seconds away, “you just put yourgear on and lay on the floor,” he said.

The climate also was totally different. Inthe summer, Hamilton said it did not rainmuch, and the temperature would reach125 degrees. Fortunately for him, though,his office and trailer had air conditioning.

Being in Iraq did have its goodmoments, though. Hamilton said the foodwas great, and he even put on about 10pounds while he was there. He was givena cell phone with unlimited calling, so hecould talk to his wife back in the United

States everyday. He also met her in Jordanat one point, and they toured Jordan andIsrael.

All-in-all, Hamilton spent 13 months inBaghdad. After returning to the UnitedStates, the State Department asked him topostpone his retirement for five months towork in Charleston.

After his time in South Carolina came toan end, Hamilton felt it was time to comehome. Once he retired from the federalgovernment, he returned to Arkansas andcame back to work at DWS. Hamiltonnow works on special projects and reportsfor the controller’s office.

Several things have changed sinceHamilton last worked for DWS, one ofwhich being the name change from theEmployment Security Department to theDepartment of Workforce Services. Also,when Hamilton left DWS, the agency’sbudget was $250 million. Now, partly dueto stimulus funds, DWS’ budget hasgrown to $1.6 billion.

Now that he’s had his adventure and isback, Hamilton said he has no plans toleave DWS anytime soon. If he reallywants to do something, Hamilton said hestays with it for a while.

“I’m happy to be back here,” he said.“DWS is a great place to work.”

WAR ZONE — Pat Hamilton poses in hisbulletproof vest and helmet the nightbefore leaving for Iraq.

“The part of the city I wasin, there weren’t any placesthat hadn’t been hit. It wasjust destroyed.”

— Pat Hamilton

“A lot of times you didn’tknow where you were. Youjust hoped the driver did.”

— Pat Hamilton