Success Stories
Dominic Babbini: 2017 PMF
I completed my graduate studies in 2016 at Notre Dame with a Ph.D. in Chemistry. As a steppingstone, I taught intermediate and advanced chemistry as a Visiting Assistant Professor at Saint Mary's College. After a yearlong search for permanent placement and an unsuccessful academic tenure track search, I applied to the PMF program and was awarded finalist status. I was not entirely sure what I wanted to do in the next steps of my career, but I knew I had a broad set of interests and wanted to try something new. With the support of my wife and our newly born son, we made the move to D.C.
The PMF program enabled my transition from academia to the Federal Service where I adapted to the dynamic and evolving environment at Headquarters Air Force - A9, Studies, Analyses, and Assessments in the Pentagon. I worked as an operations research analyst supporting several big-picture projects that influenced senior leader decision making and impacted billions of dollars in future strategic planning and programming. Upon completion of my PMF program, I converted to a permanent position in my host office. My projects and the PMF program allowed me to interface directly with GO/SES senior leaders and allowed me to form connections and network across the Air Force, the DoD, and the Federal Government at large.
For my work in 2020, including leading a COVID-19 Operation Risk Management Team in support of an Air Force Task Force, I was awarded the Air Force 2020 Journeyman Civilian Analyst of the Year. Our team helped develop a web-based dashboard to convey both regional and installation-specific case trends, forecasts, and gating criteria status that empowered the Air Staff and AF Commanders to make informed decisions about travel, personnel relocations, and health protection condition levels.
In the summer of 2021, I accepted an Air Force Career Broadener position supporting Headquarters U.S. Air Forces in Europe / Africa, Analyses, Assessments, and Lessons Learned. With the continuing support of my wife and baby number two, we made the move to Ramstein, Germany. I am grateful for the PMF program and the Air Force for making these opportunities possible, and I have been working to give back by mentoring prospective and new PMF Finalists as they begin their journey.