GRISSOM AIR RESERVE BASE, Ind. -- Internal security is a vital part of keeping Airmen safe and the Air Force mission secure. Members of the Air Force Office of Special Investigation work diligently behind the scenes to make sure bases and members stay protected from potential threats and illegal activity.
Staff Sgt. Ami Malone is a member of Grissom’s OSI team who has taken on the challenge of keeping the base safe, while breaking ground in a new role.
Malone, a native of Illinois but raised in Indiana, has long been interested in a law enforcement career.
“I was always fascinated with TV shows such as Crime Scene Investigation or Criminal Minds and anything that had a mystery attached to it,” she said.
“I knew I wanted to pursue law enforcement as a career when I started studying criminal justice in undergrad,” she added.
That life-long interest, along with a desire to serve her country, led her to Security Forces six years ago.
“I joined the Air Force because I wanted to pursue other law enforcement like the Central Intelligence Agency or Federal Bureau of Investigations, and I thought why not serve my country while pursing that,” said Malone.
And Malone is serving in a big way as she recently became the first and only person in Air Force Reserve Command to serve in security forces while being assigned to OSI. Grissom is the first base in AFRC to be approved for such a positon.
She serves as a dual role member of the Joint Drug Enforcement and the Joint Sexual Assault Teams.
It’s a big but welcomed responsibility for Malone, who was previously conducting a few investigations with the 434th Security Forces Squadron prior to her new role.
“I never imagined or expected it,” she said of being chosen for the position. “But, to be the first one makes you really step up to the plate.”
Those agents are tasked with various responsibilities not limited to: conducting criminal investigations, detecting and mitigating threats, and protecting technology and information.
Agents investigate offenses ranging from computer hacking to terrorism and even military desertion.
John Stanford, 434th OSI Operations Location Chief, is pleased to have Malone on board to assist in investigations, especially those involving women. Stanford said sometimes female victims may feel more comfortable talking to another woman, which may help curb fear of reporting an assault.
“We were looking for security forces investigators, and we were looking for a female if possible,” he said. “In sexual assault cases, you deal with female and male victims. If you have a female investigator who has some training, it’s a win-win.”
“We’re happy to encourage reporting and awareness that we have an actual sexual assault team and so people know we’re here for them,” Stanford added.
Malone will be working alongside Stanford.
The partnership gives Stanford some assistance and takes some cases off the plate of the Security Forces Squadron.
“It relieves Security Forces of using more manpower for certain cases and shows the great collaboration of OSI and Security Forces on this base,” Stanford said.
Malone was trained at a federal law enforcement agency and will put that training to use during her time with OSI and for whatever comes next.
She said she’s open to the idea of joining the FBI but her plans are to stay in the Air Force. With a love for both Security Forces and OSI, she’s relishing the variety of her new role.
“Every day is always different. The people are different, the situations are different. There’s never any day that’s the same,” Malone said.
The 434th ARW is the largest KC-135R Stratotanker unit in the Air Force Reserve Command. Men and women from the Hoosier Wing routinely deploy around the world in support of the Air Force mission.
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