Feature: California Air National Guardsman’s passion for art soars to new heights Published Sept. 20, 2024 By Tech. Sgt. Michelle Ulber 146th Airlift Wing CHANNEL ISLANDS AIR NATIONAL GUARD STATION, Calif. -- Tech Sgt. Serrica Michalek, a Maintenance Management Analyst with the 146th Airlift Wing, has taken her passion for art to new heights by painting new nose art on the unit's C-130J aircraft by demonstrating her exceptional talent and creativity through her vibrant and evocative artwork. Her passion for art has captivated her fellow airmen and breathed new life into the aircraft, turning them into powerful symbols of pride and unity according to her commander. "Michalek is known as one of our creative talent resources here in the Maintenance Group," said Col. Karen Bogdan, commander of the 146th Maintenance Group. "This is known outside of the group, too, which led to her painting the mural on the exterior of the Hollywood Hut recently." The wing’s “Hollywood Hut” is a space for Airman to gather and create morale events to heighten camaraderie and good spirits among those that work at Channel Islands Air National Guard Station. The back of the Hut features a large mural that Michalek painted featuring military and beach themed motifs, calling upon the wing’s heritage and proximity to the ocean and its history with the entertainment industry. Bogdan explained, "Having seen Michalek's work on the Hollywood Hut, I was truly impressed. Painting on that scale takes considerable talent. Upon further investigation, I learned that Michalek had also painted a mural in one of the hallways here in the hangar and the artwork on the static display aircraft near the front gate of the installation. I knew she had the talent we were looking for, and I thought that having one of our members paint our nose art would be a unique and meaningful story.” “Michalek not only excels at her duties as a maintenance analyst, but she is also an incredibly talented and gifted artist who loves the opportunity to give back and care for her family – whether it is her family at home or her family here at work," said Bogdan. Creating nose art for military aircraft has a rich tradition that dates back to World War I, where it served as a source of camaraderie and morale for service members. Nose art on aircraft serves several purposes. It can boost morale among the crew and provide a sense of identity to the aircraft. Additionally, it can serve as a tribute to loved ones or a representation of the unit's values. Sgt. Michalek's artwork continues this tradition, infusing aircraft with a unique visual identity that reflects the spirit and dedication of the 146th Airlift Wing. Reflecting on the project's background, Bogdan says the initiative to bring back the tradition of nose art to the 146th Airlift Wing came from a desire to amplify unit morale and recognition. "Having previously come from a wing with a long-standing history of nose art and knowing the significant impact nose art has on unit and wing morale and recognition, I wanted to do whatever possible to bring this military tradition back to the 146th," said Bogdan. She continued, "The idea was pitched internally and received with excitement, stirring some spirited discussions on the flight line. Then, I approached the wing commander for his support, and he immediately approved. So now it was a matter of designing the artwork and getting National Guard Bureau's (NGB) approval. Our crew chiefs worked with Michalek to develop initial drafts that we could take to a professional artist to finalize and paint upon NGB approval." Regarding the significance of nose art, Bogdan expressed, "While I cannot speak for everyone across the base, I can tell you that it is certainly a point of pride for our members here in the Maintenance Group, especially for Master Sgt. Shane McGlashen, the lead crew chief that worked to help design the nose art for the aircraft. Our crew chiefs are excited at the opportunity to design nose art for their aircraft to showcase their part of the story and mission as well. It's also an awesome way to gain recognition for the wing, which will happen as we travel and our nose art is seen around the world." "Creating the nose art for the aircraft was a true honor for me, and it allowed me to combine my love for art with my dedication to serving my country," said Michalek. "Being able to contribute to the unit's morale and inspiration through my artwork has been an incredibly fulfilling experience. That particular aircraft is now named "Lady Luck" and features a four-leaf clover and several horseshoes. She's (the aircraft) has a very storied history but is still running strong after all these years." Sgt. Michalek's artwork continues a significant tradition, infusing the wing's aircraft with a unique visual identity that reflects the spirit and dedication of the 146th Airlift Wing. Her passion for art and commitment to her fellow servicemen and women have left an indelible mark on the unit's legacy, adding a touch of pride and history to their missions. "Art has always been a passion of mine and sharing that passion with my military family has been truly rewarding," Michalek explained. "I believe that the nose art not only adds a touch of history and pride to our missions but also serves as a source of camaraderie and morale for all of us."
Feature: California Air National Guardsman’s passion for art soars to new heights Published Sept. 20, 2024 By Tech. Sgt. Michelle Ulber 146th Airlift Wing CHANNEL ISLANDS AIR NATIONAL GUARD STATION, Calif. -- Tech Sgt. Serrica Michalek, a Maintenance Management Analyst with the 146th Airlift Wing, has taken her passion for art to new heights by painting new nose art on the unit's C-130J aircraft by demonstrating her exceptional talent and creativity through her vibrant and evocative artwork. Her passion for art has captivated her fellow airmen and breathed new life into the aircraft, turning them into powerful symbols of pride and unity according to her commander. "Michalek is known as one of our creative talent resources here in the Maintenance Group," said Col. Karen Bogdan, commander of the 146th Maintenance Group. "This is known outside of the group, too, which led to her painting the mural on the exterior of the Hollywood Hut recently." The wing’s “Hollywood Hut” is a space for Airman to gather and create morale events to heighten camaraderie and good spirits among those that work at Channel Islands Air National Guard Station. The back of the Hut features a large mural that Michalek painted featuring military and beach themed motifs, calling upon the wing’s heritage and proximity to the ocean and its history with the entertainment industry. Bogdan explained, "Having seen Michalek's work on the Hollywood Hut, I was truly impressed. Painting on that scale takes considerable talent. Upon further investigation, I learned that Michalek had also painted a mural in one of the hallways here in the hangar and the artwork on the static display aircraft near the front gate of the installation. I knew she had the talent we were looking for, and I thought that having one of our members paint our nose art would be a unique and meaningful story.” “Michalek not only excels at her duties as a maintenance analyst, but she is also an incredibly talented and gifted artist who loves the opportunity to give back and care for her family – whether it is her family at home or her family here at work," said Bogdan. Creating nose art for military aircraft has a rich tradition that dates back to World War I, where it served as a source of camaraderie and morale for service members. Nose art on aircraft serves several purposes. It can boost morale among the crew and provide a sense of identity to the aircraft. Additionally, it can serve as a tribute to loved ones or a representation of the unit's values. Sgt. Michalek's artwork continues this tradition, infusing aircraft with a unique visual identity that reflects the spirit and dedication of the 146th Airlift Wing. Reflecting on the project's background, Bogdan says the initiative to bring back the tradition of nose art to the 146th Airlift Wing came from a desire to amplify unit morale and recognition. "Having previously come from a wing with a long-standing history of nose art and knowing the significant impact nose art has on unit and wing morale and recognition, I wanted to do whatever possible to bring this military tradition back to the 146th," said Bogdan. She continued, "The idea was pitched internally and received with excitement, stirring some spirited discussions on the flight line. Then, I approached the wing commander for his support, and he immediately approved. So now it was a matter of designing the artwork and getting National Guard Bureau's (NGB) approval. Our crew chiefs worked with Michalek to develop initial drafts that we could take to a professional artist to finalize and paint upon NGB approval." Regarding the significance of nose art, Bogdan expressed, "While I cannot speak for everyone across the base, I can tell you that it is certainly a point of pride for our members here in the Maintenance Group, especially for Master Sgt. Shane McGlashen, the lead crew chief that worked to help design the nose art for the aircraft. Our crew chiefs are excited at the opportunity to design nose art for their aircraft to showcase their part of the story and mission as well. It's also an awesome way to gain recognition for the wing, which will happen as we travel and our nose art is seen around the world." "Creating the nose art for the aircraft was a true honor for me, and it allowed me to combine my love for art with my dedication to serving my country," said Michalek. "Being able to contribute to the unit's morale and inspiration through my artwork has been an incredibly fulfilling experience. That particular aircraft is now named "Lady Luck" and features a four-leaf clover and several horseshoes. She's (the aircraft) has a very storied history but is still running strong after all these years." Sgt. Michalek's artwork continues a significant tradition, infusing the wing's aircraft with a unique visual identity that reflects the spirit and dedication of the 146th Airlift Wing. Her passion for art and commitment to her fellow servicemen and women have left an indelible mark on the unit's legacy, adding a touch of pride and history to their missions. "Art has always been a passion of mine and sharing that passion with my military family has been truly rewarding," Michalek explained. "I believe that the nose art not only adds a touch of history and pride to our missions but also serves as a source of camaraderie and morale for all of us."