For over 43 years, Tony Garcia has been the quintessential customer service employee with every organization he has served in, as their Human Resources (HR) Specialist. In May of 1980, Tony Garcia graduated from the University of Oklahoma. He started his federal career as a Personnel Staffing Specialist at Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma City in January 1981. He worked at that location until February of 1988. Then he moved to Dayton, Ohio, for a staffing position at the Air Force Logistics Command headquarters at Wright Patterson Air Force Base, where he worked until May 1992.
Tony then transferred to Oklahoma to work as a Personnel Staffing Specialist at the FAA’s Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center. Known for his outstanding customer service and attention to detail, Tony eventually moved to the Labor and Employee Relations Division in May 1998, where he continued to serve until retiring on June 30, 2024.
Anyone who knows Tony understands that he has an incredible passion for his work and has a nearly photographic memory regarding policies and procedures. Tony typically responded promptly whenever an employee, manager, or co-worker had a question, citing specific regulations. He would then follow up by providing documented research regarding the inquiry. Tony has always taken great pride in being proactive (rather than reactive) when handling work-related issues which must be resolved or addressed. For example, Tony continually believed that educating FAA managers and employees on various HR policies was essential to avoiding mistakes and the resulting problems.
During his career, Tony developed and delivered many presentations (many on his own initiative) on staffing issues, veterans’ preference, Reduction-in-Force, the Core Compensation pay system, Leave, work schedules, overtime, and other premium pay issues. He also covered subjects like the Fair Labor Standards Act, travel time compensation, telework, conduct and discipline, various performance issues, and other HR topics. If you’ve attended one of Tony’s briefings, then you understand his ability to clearly explain multiple HR topics in a thorough yet understandable manner.
Tony’s goal was to ensure that attendees of his presentations walked away being better aware of their rights and responsibilities, lowering the chances of a mistake or misunderstanding due to the lack of knowledge about HR policies. For example, a manager might be unaware that an employee can use up to 12 weeks of sick leave to care for a sibling with a serious health condition, and then mistakenly advise an employee that they have to use annual leave for such purposes. While this may have been an innocent mistake on the manager’s part, the employee may feel aggrieved or file a complaint when they later discover that they were provided incorrect information on the matter, which ultimately can hurt the morale of an employee. That grievance might also create a negative impact on the mission of our agency. Tony was dedicated to taking the time and effort to brief/train management or employees on HR topics, helping to create a more well-informed workforce. Employees and managers alike will keenly feel the absence of Tony’s HR expertise as he transitions into his much-deserved retirement.
When Tony was asked what one of the biggest challenges he ever faced was, he replied that - by far - it was when he battled and survived Acute Myeloid Leukemia in 2009 and again in 2013. He is now considered cured of that cancer due to a bone marrow transplant that he received during his second occurrence of leukemia. Tony is extremely grateful for the love and support that he received from his managers, coworkers, and friends who stood by him during these difficult times. He feels that their outreach is what helped him to survive and heal!
As a child, Tony always wanted to be an architect. Born and raised in McAlester, Oklahoma, Tony’s first job was selling men’s clothing in a department store at the age of 16. It is no wonder that his sense of style and fashion began at an early age.
When asked about traits he admires most in others, Tony says, "I admire people who are kind and empathetic, those who keep their word, work hard, and do the right thing - even when no one is looking." It’s no wonder that he excelled in an HR career.
Tony’s favorite vacation spot is New York City, and his hobbies involve going to sporting events, especially the University of Oklahoma (OU) football and basketball games. He also enjoys being with friends and just having good conversations. Tony reflects on some of the best advice that he’s ever received, "To remain positive and hopeful no matter how bad things may seem today and realizing that tomorrow is a new day that may bring about a positive change." That is something which he reminded himself of every day when battling leukemia.
Everyone shares heartfelt wishes for Tony as he dances happily off into the sunset with a distinguished career and an incredible reputation. Tony, your FAA family wishes you all the best in this new chapter of your life!
