‘Bravo zulu’
Community thanks MCAS community liaison specialist Paula Backs for service
“Here’s wishing the path of least resistance, continued growth and staying interested, for keeping the smile, glisten in the eyes and sincerity, holding the many years ahead with dignity, love and perseverance, for being the Paula Backs that has consistently been a wonderful colleague and friend.”
For decades, Paula Backs worked mostly behind the scenes planning growth and protecting the interests of Marine Corps Air Station Yuma. The community recently joined together to say “bravo zulu” and thank her for a job “well done.”
On behalf of the Yuma Planning and Zoning Commission, Laurie Lineberry, director of the city’s Community Development Department, bid farewell to Backs, who retired after 33 years of serving her country, first as a Marine and later with the Marine Corps Air Station Yuma’s Community Plans and Liaison Department.
During a June 11 meeting, Lineberry and P&Z Chairman Chris Hamel thanked Backs for her service and gave her a token of appreciation. Later in the week, friends, family and members of the city, MCAS, Yuma International Airport, Million Air and the Yuma 50 offered her well wishes at a retirement party.
Lineberry noted that Backs, community liaison specialist for MCAS, has been a member of the community for a long time and has worked “hard and diligently.”
“I know a lot of us who spend our whole careers working and nobody recognizes that you’ve actually done a whole lot of things. I didn’t want this person to escape quietly. I wanted to make sure that we recognized the work that she’s done,” she said.
Backs first came to MCAS in 1975 as a Marine. She returned in 1995 as a civilian and began working in the Community Liaison Office at the base.
“That’s where I met Paula when I got here in 1999, so Paula and I have worked together all this time,” Lineberry recalled. “During her years there she participated in thoughtful and planned growth of both MCAS and the Yuma community.”
Backs worked alongside city planning staff “to help mold and shape this community while always keeping the best interest of base operations at the forefront of her work. She has attended countless — countless — public hearings, public meetings, project meetings, neighborhood meetings, round tables in her efforts to make sure that the interests of MCAs were always represented,” Lineberry said, adding that “as partners we shaped and protected the direction and pattern of growth of the city and the base for future generations.”
Lineberry also pointed out Backs’ “natural spirit of cooperation and collaboration.”
“Paula will be greatly missed by my staff. We worked with her on a daily basis. Her professionalism, thoughtfulness and her wonderful sense of humor have always made her a pleasure to work with, and we wish you bountiful blessings and godspeed.”
Lineberry read a letter from Monty Stansbury, director of development services for Yuma County, who was unable to attend the meeting. He described Backs as a “consummate professional” whose perspective was a “welcome advancement in the partnering with the air base.”
He added: “Here’s wishing the path of least resistance, continued growth and staying interested, for keeping the smile, glisten in the eyes and sincerity, holding the many years ahead with dignity, love and perseverance, for being the Paula Backs that has consistently been a wonderful colleague and friend. Here’s to the best times ahead.”
Lineberry presented Backs with a glass award. “We wanted you to have something so that you could remember that we do recognize the work that you put into this community and you gave it from your heart. And we thank you for that.”
Backs expressed appreciation to city staff for their “awesome job” and partnership with MCAS. “I appreciate that the staff has been able to work with MCAS.”
Hamel reiterated that there’s a lot of people behind the scenes who put together and review cases, including Backs. “That helps make our job that much easier and we appreciate all that you’ve done.”
Friends, family and colleagues offered Backs more well wishes at a retirement party at Da Boyz Italian Cuisine on June 14.
“Bravo Zulu for a career well done, Paula. Thank you again, dear friend, may you be blessed with a long, healthy retirement with family and friends,” the Yuma International Airport posted on Facebook.
“Bravo zulu” is military-speak for “well done.”