FOND FAREWELL! — Shirley Brzenski cuts the cake at her retirement luncheon at the Captain’s Club. (Photo by AC3 Kiana Kahlbaum, NAS Kingsville Public Affairs). For the last 36 years, NAS Kingsville has been a homeaway from-home for Shirley Brzenski. Driving to the air station each workday since 1973 has become such a normal routine for the 63- yearold Kingsville native that at times, her car seems to follow the route to the base on auto-pilot. But as of Dec. 31, that will all change as Brzenski officially retires from Civil Service.

“I’m not sure how I’ll spend my time once I’m officially retired,” Brzenski said last week at a luncheon in her honor at the NAS Kingsville Captain’s Club Dec. 16. “I really can’t believe I’ve worked on the base for 36 years, but I have. And honestly, I’ve enjoyed every minute of it. Retirement is going to be a difficult transition for me; but, I’m ready for it.”

Shirley and her husband Dan enjoy lunch with Cmdr. Allen It’s safe to say that Brzenski has become an icon of sorts. She is among but a handful of people who have worked on board the base for more than 30 years, and as the air station’s mission was finetuned, Brzenski simply adapted to the changes.

“I started as a clerk at the ‘old’ Navy Exchange, which is now home to the MWR Fitness Center,” Brzenski recalled. “After a while I as- sumed the job of department manager, with two employees, responsible for ordering special items for the store.”

Brzenski would later move on the Morale, Welfare and Recreation Department (MWR) as a clerk typist and purchasing clerk and a few other roles before finally bridging into the Civil Service system as a property clerk with the Public Works Department in 1990.

Two years later, Brzenski moved again - this time to the NAS Kingsville Supply Department as purchasing supervisor with three employees and the responsible for purchasing, invoice payment, and managing the petty cash fund.

When the command credit card program came into existence in 1996, Brzenski was the perfect person to take on the challenge.

In her new role as Agency Program Coordinator, Brzenski brought the program to life, held training for card users and approving officials, and maintained a careful and watchful eye over base expenditures. Sometimes, she’d even have to remind people that program rules and regulations were there for a purpose; and that there were no exceptions.

“NAS Kingsville and Naval Station Ingleside were the first two commands in South Texas to establish the new program,” Brzenski recalled. “Once we got our program up and running, we brought the other Texas commands online. It was my responsibility to make sure the program followed the guidelines established by the Department of the Navy,” Brzenski said.

“So, yes, sometimes I was pretty head-strong when it came to doing things by the book. But the bottom line was,” Brzenski added, “that I was tasked by the Commanding Officer to ensure the program was run correctly. So, that’s what I did.”

When the Supply Department reorganized under the Fleet Industrial Supply Center, Jacksonville, Fla., in 2000, Brzenski assumed the official title of Agency Program Coordinator for NAS Kingsville. She moved her office into the NAS Kingsville headquarters building, serving as a special assistant to the commanding officer. But the change in locations didn’t stop her from keeping a tight rein on the program.

Occasionally, Brzenski admits, she ruffled feathers. On other occasions, she simply sat down with the card holders and provided on-the-jobtraining.

“But there were other times,” Brzenski added, “when I became a little outspoken. But, that’s what was needed.”

Brzenski’s efforts did not go unnoticed. During her career she has been named employee of the quarter several times, and in 2003, Brzenski was named the air station’s Manager of the Year for her work with the credit card program. In 2008, she was selected as the air station’s Sr. Civilian Employee of the Year.

“I’ve always felt that those awards were special because they meant that the command and my fellow workers appreciated what I did,” Brzenski said. “But I’m really just one part of a great team that is charged with taking care of our Sailors.

That’s what we’re all here to do, and that’s the approach I’ve always taken with any job I’ve had on base.”

She and her husband Dan Brzenski Sr. met in 1971 when he was on active duty stationed at VT-23 working the night shift at the squadron. Since he worked nights, Dan took a job at the Kingsville H-E-B during the day, and that’s where the two first met.

“I’d like to say it was love at first sight,” Shirley chuckled, “but it wasn’t.”

Still, there was enough of a spark that pulled them together - a relationship that hit 38-years this past May. They have raised three sons. The oldest, Ronnie

passed away in 1998. Younger brothers Dan Jr., 36, and Michael, 34, live in Kingsville. Shirley says the greatest joy in her life are her six grandchildren: Daniel, 14; Kiara, 10; Kyle, 8; Kourtney, 4; Caedance, 4; and Korban, 1.

The turnout for retirement luncheon caught Shirley by surprise.

In addition to a large number of co-workers and family members, a number of old friends also showed up - including former NAS Kingsville Commanding Officer and current CNATRA Chief of Staff Capt. James Crabbe.

“I was just blown away by the number of people who showed up for the luncheon,” Brzenski said, fighting to hold back tears.

“(The luncheon) was a very nice way for me to say goodbye, and I am very grateful to Anna Carvajal, Viola Glasgow, Maryann Shramko, Monette Walker, Norma Cano and everybody else who helped put the luncheon together. I will miss them all, but I will stay in touch. I wish the very best for the command and the people who work here.”