FALL 2011 - Lake Erie College

Alumni Spotlight
Angela Bethel expands her
professional career at Air Force
Research Laboratory by Katie Staats ’09, MBA ’11
With endless opportunities and a high
chance for success, working for the federal
government provides immediate responsibility
and the ability to develop key
leadership skills. Lake Erie College 2009
alumna Angela Bethel was presented with
the opportunity to work at the Air Force
Research Laboratory (AFRL), formed in 1997
at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio.
“I interned for the AFRL in 2007, and I
enjoyed my time there so much that after
graduation I applied for a position. I was
immediately contacted and offered a finance
position and enrollment into the graduate
program at Wright State University,”
Bethel said.
AFRL is dedicated to the discovery,
development and integration of war-fighting
technology. Bethel was brought on as the
single financial point of contact for the
technical division, executing a $32 million
yearly budget and managing a wide range
of customer funds, including production and
working capital funds.
Bethel’s responsibilities are varied, and she
feels blessed to be given so much responsibility.
At AFRL, she ensures critical technical
efforts such as the high-visibility, cuttingedge
congressional
interest item
alternative
energy projects
(converting waste
to fuel), as well as
budget execution
and regulatory
compliance.
One of her major
Angela Bethel
responsibilities is
assisting with the funding for the Coatings
Technology Integration Office (CTIO). CTIO
performs testing and evaluation using
different paints on materials in different
climates, temperature and air pressure. For
example, CTIO helps determine the paints
used on NASA shuttle crafts.
“I am very active with the Junior Force in
AFRL. I traveled to Seattle last summer to
tour Boeing Headquarters; it was a great
experience,” Bethel said.
In addition to her AFRL tasks, Bethel assists
with the funding for the Rain Corrosion test
site, where rain drops are sent at supersonic
speeds into different materials and coatings.
She also oversees the Adhesives and
Composites branch and Environment and
Energy branch.
“I hope to continue my professional career
with the federal government. I can’t see
myself anywhere else; this is a perfect fit for
me,” Bethel said.
Bethel received a nationwide recognition in
2010 as the Financial Analyst Civilian of the
Year at AFRL.
During her graduate studies at Wright State
University, Bethel served on the Dean’s
Student Advisory Board for Raj Soin School
of Business. She graduated with her MBA
in November 2010 with a concentration in
project management. After graduation, she
became the key organizer in a humanitarian
initiative to support Afghanistan children
by fundraising and building campus-wide
support and awareness to ultimately provide
needy children in war zones with school
supplies.
20 L A K E E R I E | FALL ‘11