Daniel Akeredolu, VIP protocol specialist at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility, knew he wanted to join the U.S. Air Force as a young man from Chicago's South Side after seeing a recruiting commercial.
“The Air Force called to me like that green crystal calling to a ‘superpower-stripped’ Christopher Reeve in his rendition of Superman in the movie ‘Superman II.’”
While he weighed all the branches as options, he discovered that it was the Air Force that spoke to his imagination the most, which was an important aspect for him.
“At the time, the Air Force slogan was ‘Aim High,’ and I thought, 'Yeah, I’d like to do that,’” he reminisced.
Upon joining in 1987, Akeredolu wished to become an air traffic controller, but instead was assigned as an electrician in civil engineering, where he would troubleshoot, install and plan electrical systems. In retrospect, he is grateful to have been assigned this role. It had highly transferable skills outside of work, and the training still comes in handy for him today.
At the start of what would become an impressive 35-year career, Akeredolu was first assigned to Pease Air Force Base (AFB) in New Hampshire. The base would close a few years after his arrival, but it was there where he met his wife and made long-lasting connections with his colleagues. He had planned on leaving the Air Force after his initial four-year enlistment was up, but after becoming married, he realized how beneficial a military life would be for them in the long term.
“It answered my ‘What’s next?’ question on what I had planned to be a four-year tour of duty that I overshot by 31 years!” he exclaimed.
After his departure from Pease AFB, Akeredolu was assigned to Homestead AFB in Florida for a short time, which ended up closing due to damage caused by the infamous Hurricane Andrew in 1992. He was extremely appreciative of how well the military took care of his family during their relocation to Patrick AFB following the hurricane destroying their home.
Inspiration to complete his studies struck Akeredolu after his next transition to Wright-Patterson AFB in Ohio, leading him to graduate with a bachelor's degree in human resource management and later a graduate degree in public administration.
He didn’t begin his studies with the goal of becoming an officer; however, after nine years of enlistment, he thought, “Why not?” Ultimately, this led to Akeredolu competing for selection as a commissioned officer; a selection he later obtained during his next assignment at Langley AFB in Virginia. Akeredolu rose through the ranks, and he eventually attained the final rank of lieutenant colonel.
“I honed the U.S. Air Force’s decisive edge through various personnel programs as a force support officer,” he stated. “I did nearly the same thing that I did as an enlisted electrician when I became an officer in the second portion of my Air Force career. But, instead, it was with people.”
Some of Akeredolu’s most memorable moments as an officer happened during his time as a flightline protocol officer, one of the assigned duties of Force Support at Andrews Air Force Base near Washington D.C. There, he was able to personally meet many government officials as it was the host base for Air Force One. These included Presidents Clinton, Carter and Obama, and former First Lady Laura Bush. He was also present for President Reagan’s funeral arrival.
“It was in this job that I found myself at the tip of the spear for meeting, greeting and assisting nearly every consequential U.S. government official and world official as they were transiting Andrews AFB on their way to or from business in the nation’s capital region,” he said.
He said the role was similar to his current role at Jefferson Lab, a U.S. Department of Energy national laboratory. After his lengthy career in the Air Force, Akeredolu ventured to the lab as a distinguished veteran to become the new VIP protocol specialist in August 2023.
His position consists of analyzing, organizing, planning, adapting and communicating efforts in support of the lab when it comes to hosting high-profile VIP visits. He also provides back up for tours of the laboratory for qualified groups. He felt this position was his calling, because it fit the similarities of what he did in the Air Force. He said that he is very fortunate to find a role for which he is well-suited and into which he can integrate.
He went into the Air Force wondering what was in store for him as he approached this new adventure. He left with crucial skills, valuable connections and worldly experiences. The Air Force slogan that initially pulled him was right. Akeredolu did, in fact, ‘Aim High.’
“There is no other American institution that can even come close to developing the well-rounded whole person that comes out on the other side of a successful armed forces career – no matter the length. Simply amazing!”
Akeredolu thanks his time in the military for preparing him with a cornucopia of knowledge and leadership skills.
Thank you for your service, Dan!
By Lauren Weber