Jessica Lawson is a veteran and a historian for the 944th Fighter Wing at Luke Air Force Base. She graduated from SHPRS with her bachelor’s in history and a minor in religious studies. We asked her about her time here at ASU and why she chose Public History.
Question: Why did you pursue your degree?
Answer: I’ve always loved history. Since I was a kid, I’ve been fascinated by how people lived in the past and how actions taken and decisions made decades or centuries ago affect how we live now. I remember taking trips to historical sites with my family and wondering how the people there lived and wanting to keep digging to figure out more.
Q: Were you always interested in becoming a historian?
A: I originally wanted to become an archaeologist like Indiana Jones but I really don’t like bugs or snakes- so that was out. Then, as I got older, I realized I liked to research and write and since those are some of the main things historians do, I set my sights on becoming a historian.
Q: What was the most memorable humanities class you took at ASU? Why?
A: HST 406: The American Revolution. The American Revolution is one of my focus areas and there’s a lot of information that isn’t taught in elementary, middle and high school about the war and the causes. This was a great class to get the opportunity to dig deeper into the founding of our country and to be able to separate myth from reality. Many social and political upheavals were going on at that time and can be mirrored with our own society today. Also being able to look at the role women played not only in the home but in the war itself is something many Americans don’t get to do before college. Now, as an Air Force historian, it was a good foundation for military history overall. The class renewed my interest in that time period of American history and has spurred me on to continue doing my own research on women in the American Revolution.
Q: Why did you decide to become a historian for the Air Force?
A: I am an Air Force veteran so it was a natural fit for me. I already understood the culture, lifestyle, language, etc. For me, it was like coming home. I wanted to be able to make an impact on airmen who didn’t know they were creating history because that’s what it comes down to: the airmen are who create the stories for the future. I’m sure many of the soldiers, airmen, sailors and Marines didn’t know that they were making history during World War II, but they did and someone was there to capture it. This is what I wanted to do.
The history program is a public history program, not an academic one so that took some getting used to. I collect, archive and write the operational history of the 944th Fighter Wing, which is the reserve tenant unit on Luke Air Force Base. While that is my primary duty, I also get to do heritage projects, history briefings, classes and a number of things that highlight the history of the wing to a broader audience on and off base.
Q: What has been your favorite thing to research about your base? Why?
A: Since I am the historian for the 944th Fighter Wing, my focus is on that wing- the base history belongs to the 56th Fighter Wing and is maintained by the active duty wing historian. So there are two historians on Luke Air Force Base- one for each wing.
One of the best things I discovered about the 944th Fighter Wing is that back in the 1970’s, we took part in Operation Homecoming. We brought home prisoners of war during the tail end of the Vietnam War. We have also flown moon rocks from the Apollo 12 mission from Hawaii to Florida. When the unit was established here on Luke, we were home to the 301st and 302nd Fighter Squadrons which were two of the original Tuskegee Airmen squadrons that were established during WWII. There is an incredible legacy at the 944th.
Q: What is one piece of advice you would give to current humanities majors?
A: I’m sure they know this already but get used to writing! There’s so much writing, especially if you want to become a historian. Also, primary sources are gold! Using those will get you far because they can also lead to more primary sources and great secondary sources! Be creative, think outside the box, find what you like and run with it! History is VAST and there are so many different topics, locations, time periods, etc. that you’re able to study. Don’t box yourself into one thing!
If public history is your thing, there are so many positions open that aren’t in the academic field, many of them are positions in local, state and federal government. Look into those once you’re close to graduation!
