NAVAL AIR SYSTEMS COMMAND, PATUXENT RIVER, Md. – A civilian single mother of two and budget analyst in the Aviation Support Equipment program office (PMA-260) here is preparing to serve her country by deploying to Iraq.

Vicki Leonard is one of 20 people selected out of the more than 2,000 respondents to a Department of Defense request for civilian volunteers to deploy for one year to Iraq.

“I served four years in the Navy as an enlisted sailor earlier in my life. So when I saw the email asking for volunteers on Oct 6, 2008, I immediately thought that this is something I really want to do,” said Leonard.

Leonard is scheduled to deploy to Bagdad, where she will work as a budget analyst in J-8, the Comptroller/Budget office.

Leonard said deploying to Iraq has two important positives for her and her family.

“I’m a single mom, and I have two children, Luke, 13; and Shelby, 8. There are a couple of positives being able to go overseas,” said Leonard. “One is personal, I’d like my children to be proud of me, and the second is being able to buy a house when I return.”

“I’ll be working six days a week, 12 to13 hours per day, and we don’t earn comp time,” said Leonard. “The salary boost will make it possible to give my kids the quality of life I want for them and will go a long way toward paying for a house.”

Volunteering for the Iraq deployment was very much a family decision, said Leonard.

“When I began thinking about volunteering for this assignment, the first person I called was my ex-husband, Jim Leonard, because of our children,” said Leonard. “We may be divorced, but we are friends; and we have children together. He was very supportive of my decision to go to Iraq, and he’ll take care of the kids while I’m gone.”

Even though Leonard had submitted paperwork for the Iraq tour, her being selected for the assignment was unexpected.

“I really did not think this would go anywhere so when Personnel called telling me I was selected to deploy, I was very surprised and needed to talk to my boss Carson Carroll, AIR 1.0’s lead BFM, to let him know,” said Leonard. “Carson was very supportive and about a week later he came by and told me he had given me a great reference, and it was on its way to Iraq.”

“Vicki's unselfish decision to volunteer for the role of ‘combat BFM’ in Iraq is a good example of the high quality individuals we have here in our civilian workforce. After her year in Iraq, she will have a very valuable perspective to share in regards to supporting our Sailors and Marines,” said Carson Carroll, AIR-1.0 assistant program executive officer, BFM.

Once Leonard learned she was selected to deploy, things began moving very quickly as the days wound down toward her deployment date.

“On December 15, I got a letter stating that I was officially selected. I called Jim again and told him I was going to deploy,” added Leonard.

“I went back to work to let my office know that I was deploying to Iraq,” said Leonard. “I’ve never heard so many compliments in my life. Everyone was very supportive about my decision.”

"Initially I was surprised when Vicki told me she volunteered and was accepted for this assignment to Iraq. However, I think it's great,” said Capt. Mike Belcher, Aviation Support Equipment program manager. “Vicki wants to do this, she wants to contribute more directly to our country's war efforts and I'm very proud of her for doing this - our whole program office is very proud of her. We look forward to celebrating her return a year from now."

When Leonard returns from her tour in Iraq, she said she hopes to come back to work in AIR 1.0.

“Even though I’ll be deployed, NAVAIR will still own me. So when I return, I’ve told my leadership that I want to come back to AIR 1.0 because I like it here,” said Leonard. “I may not be able to come back to PMA-260, but I want to come back to 1.0.”

Leonard’s NAVAIR family may miss her while she is deployed, but that does not compare to the impact her absence may have on her own family.

“I’ve spent a lot of time talking to my kids about this deployment and why it’s important not only for our family but for me personally,” said Leonard. “My daughter looked at my son’s world map, right along the East Coast where Washington, D.C. is, and drew a line with her finger over to Iraq and said, ‘it’s not that far mommy. It will be fine.’ Those words meant the world to me.”

“I also sat down with my son. He listened, he said he’ll miss me, and he’ll worry about me. But, he agrees with my decision,” added Leonard. “I told him that if you really want to do something, there aren’t any obstacles that can stop you. If you feel compelled to do something, do it.”

Leonard’s last day at NAVAIR was Jan. 30. She said she will take some time off before she leaves for Fort Harmony located at Fort Benning, Ga., where she will in-process and receive training before she deploys.

Photo: “Vicki Leonard, budget analyst in the Aviation Support Equipment program office (PMA-260), will deploy to Iraq for one year.”