Staff Sgt. Robert Novak Published Nov. 22, 2006 By Public Affairs Public Affairs Vance Air Force Base, Okla. -- Staff Sgt. Robert Novak, 71st Security Forces Squadron was nominated as Warrior of the Week because he "is a true 71st SFS workhorse. With a good portion of this unit deployed down range at any given time, many of our members must step up to manage and sustain squadron programs that belonged to primary members who are currently in theater," said Maj. Herbert Meadows, 71 SFS commander. "As NCO in charge of our mobility section, Sergeant Novak not only ensures our deploying members are trained and well equipped for their wartime missions but is currently wearing other vital unit functional hats as well," Major Meadows said. "His work as the unit's resource advisor is a new learned skill-set for him, but he has picked up on it very quickly and his efforts are paying huge dividends. A natural multitasker, Sergeant Novak is successfully navigating the unit through an interesting end-of-year spending season, researching and purchasing updated tactical gear and ensuring unit mission sustainability requirements are projected for and prioritized appropriately." Most of his current duties are new to Sergeant Novak, who spent most of his 12-year career as a military working dog handler. "Prior K-9 experience led me to four deployments and more than 15 temporary duty assignments supporting the U.S. Secret Service and Department of State," the Sterling Heights, Mich., native said. "I covered two United Nation conventions and the Democratic and Republican conventions in 2000. It was a highlight to put down the battle dress uniforms, throw on a suit, plug in an earpiece and stand 20 feet from the President, Vice President and other dignitaries." Sergeant Novak has kept his connections with dogs though. He and his wife, Tech. Sgt. Kellie Novak, 71st Operations Support Squadron, and daughters Taylor and Madison recently adopted Oreo, a six-month old daushund/pointer mix. Spending time with his family and participating in sports are the focus of Sergeant Novak's off-duty time. He is a member of his squadron's softball, flag football, basketball and volleyball teams. He also follows all the Detroit area sports teams. A technical-sergeant select, he plans on adding the stripe in November as a step in his long-term goal of being a chief master sergeant in a headquarters security forces unit. His short-term goal is helping the 71st SFS receive an outstanding rating during the next operational readiness inspection. The Novaks met while assigned to Osan AB, Korea in 1999. After a long-distance romance between Peterson AFB, Colo., and Maxwell AFB, Ala., the couple married and he received a joint-spouse assignment to join his bride at Maxwell. The Novaks received a "cold" welcome to Vance when they arrived five months ago. A couple of days after arrival, they won a freezer full of meat during the annual enlisted appreciation night. "It was a great way to get started," Sergeant Novak said. "It's awesome the way the Enid community thanks the enlisted force through the appreciation night program."