Airlifter of the Week: His door's always open

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Taylor D. Slater
  • 86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

Every person is different. Anyone, from civilians to airmen basic to major generals, can have issues communicating with each other. Figuring out how people work and helping them understand each other can be a difficult task.

For U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Marcus Bias, 86th Airlift Wing Equal Opportunity specialist, finding common ground between coworkers is something he’s loved doing since he was young. Helping others has been beneficial for the Air Force and for himself.

While recognizing the importance of self-care, Bias also said he enjoys helping others become the best version of themselves.

Equal Opportunity requires cross-training and a rank of staff sergeant or above. Bias began his Air Force career in logistics, but when EO knocked, Bias answered the call.

“I was a staff sergeant advising lieutenant colonels and advising generals on their unit,” Bias said regarding the initial transition to EO. “In this job, you have to be confident in yourself to have open dialogues with commanders because credibility in our job is everything.”

Since 2014, Bias has become a certified human behaviorist and mediator and helped various bases with issues relating to the workplace, discrimination, and sexual harassment. He has his door open for anyone who wants to talk and needs someone to listen, even if it’s for hours at a time.


“Can I get that time back?” Bias said. “No. But at the end of the day, I see a person walking out my door with a weight lifted off their chest.”

Bias said helping people is important because it always comes back around in the future.

“If someone helps me through something, that’s going to trigger something in my head to help another person,” Bias said.

Bias briefs young Airmen at the First Term Airmen Course and new Airmen at Ramstein In-Processing about the services offered at the Equal Opportunity office. Since Bias does not have anyone to supervise on his own, this is one way he is still able to perform his job as a non-commissioned officer.

“I don’t have to be a supervisor to assist you or get you to a point in your life where you feel like you can succeed,” Bias said. “I don’t have to be a supervisor to supervise.”

Working in EO has also helped Bias understand himself.

“It shows a level of growth in myself,” Bias said. “I’m operating in that person’s lens to help them better themselves. It has no personal gain for me. At the end of the day, I’m excited I could help this person get to a level where they feel hope or become a better person. That alone fills me with joy.”

Since Bias’s assignment to Ramstein he has helped manage the EO program, supporting all active duty members, civilian employees and their family members across three wings between the 3rd Air Force, NATO and United States Air Forces in Europe, as well as other units throughout Europe. Bias led a team of seven staff instructors in executing 145 classes for Airmen and civilians, which resulted in a 35 percent reduction in EO complaints. Bias was recognized by leadership for his achievements with Airlifter of the Week on Jan. 30, and coined by Col. Matt Husemann, 86th Airlift Wing vice commander and Chief Master Sgt. Ernesto Rendon, 86th AW command chief.

Bias said these achievements would have been impossible without the support of his coworkers.

“I would not say they’re my team,” Bias said. “I call them my family. They are my family here and I appreciate each and every one of them.”