There are individuals who have the talent to understand a concept and then improve it.

What's more, some of these people use their innovation in a way to help others do their jobs.

These few folks are leaders, and one such individual is Scott Plocar, recently named Air Force Reserve Command's Outstanding Weapons Safety Civilian of the Year Award winner.

His life began in Cartersville, Georgia, and then ricocheted around the world as his father's duties as a sailor took him.

"I was a military brat," Plocar said during a break.

That sense of moving stuck with him, and when he came of age he joined the Air Force.

"I wanted to serve my country, and I wanted to continue to travel," continued Plocar.

For the next couple of decades, Plocar worked in weapons safety in and around fighter planes.

His retirement from the Air Force in 2015 was the 446th Airlift Wing's (Reserve) good fortune.

Stationed at McChord Field, the wing is a component of the United States Air Force.  It is an associate unit of the 62nd Airlift Wing, and if mobilized, is gained by Air Mobility Command.

With his knowledge of weapons and the safety protocols that come along with them, Plocar applied for and was hired as the 446th's weapons safety manager.

"I come to work every day to ensure that the folks who serve and work here go home the same as I do," continued Plocar.

He does this through annual and spot inspections.

"They go home with all of their fingers and toes, just as I do."

Not only does Plocar ensure reservist's safety, but also he is quick to alert his colleagues in the active-duty 62nd Airlift Wing if he spots something.

It is at this point that Plocar's talent for recognizing a good idea and working with it comes into play.

When he spots a new program or technologies that will help reservists complete their mission more efficiently and safely, Plocar innovates.

"I don't try to reinvent the wheel, what I do is work to make the wheel better."

An example of making the 446th's AW safety mission roll along is Plocar's introduction of SharePoint.

A web-based application that integrates with Microsoft Office, it is highly configurable and is marketed primarily as a document management and storage platform.

In other words, SharePoint allows those reservists working on their weekends and annual tours to streamline their communication and coordination safety procedures about stuff that goes boom if mishandled.

"This is not cutting of corners or pencil whipping here; this is all about weapons safety."

In demonstrating his leadership abilities, in the year since his hiring, Plocar has brought the 446th's safety community into a collaborative network of weapons safety.

"I also work very well with my colleagues on the active-duty side," he added.  "If I see something or hear of something that I think will help them, I pass it along."