Patti Holloway does not wear an Air Force uniform.

However, she exhibits an enormous amount of support and affection for the 2,400 service members assigned to the 446th Airlift Wing at Joint Base Lewis-McChord McChord Field.

"I am part of the glue which helps to hold the wing together," she commented. "And the civilians I work with here strive every day to be that glue."

The secretary to the wing commander, Col. William Flanigan, Holloway brings over 15 years of administrative experience to her position. Her experience and work ethic was rightfully recognized April 21, Administrative Professionals Day.

This year the day - which is part of Administrative Professionals Week, running from April 18-24 - was on April 21.

The acknowledgement of Holloway and other administrative professionals brings with it a bit of history.

Harry Klemfuss, a publicist, created National Secretaries Week in 1952.

Working in conjunction with the National Secretaries Association, later known as the International Association of Administrative Professionals, Klemfuss sought to encourage more people to consider careers in the secretarial/administrative support field.

In 1955, the observance date of National Secretaries Week was moved to the last full week of April.

The name was changed to Professional Secretaries Week in 1981 and became Administrative Professionals Week in 2000 to encompass the expanding responsibilities and wide-ranging job titles.

The part about growing responsibility sounds a lot like Holloway's job.

As the commander's secretary, she faces the daily challenges of everything from records manager to quality assurance manager.

"I love this wing, the people in the wing and this job," continued Holloway.  "I have over 2,400 customers who rely on me."

She is not alone in being relied upon. Currently, there are more than 4.1 million secretaries and administrative assistants in the United States. Another 9 million individuals work in various administrative support roles. Next Wednesday is rightly set aside to honor these individuals.

"Civilians are the permanent party on this base," said Holloway. "Because of this, we have an outstanding team and high job satisfaction, which translate to mission success."

Wherever this kind of success is found, it is an ethos that administrative professionals at JBLM McChord Field can easily identify with.