WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio -- Within the walls of the National Air and Space Intelligence Center, the phrase "NASIC is family" takes on a special meaning as personnel meander through festive halls making small talk, eating holiday cookies and voting for their favorite holiday door decoration. For most, the phrase is used to describe a tight-knit community, however, for the Beiring family, the phrase describes their everyday reality, seamlessly blending professional duty with their own family dynamics.
In a unique convergence of family and public service, four relatives, a father, his two children, and his brother, all report to work as Department of War civilians at the Center.
The family includes:
• Christopher Beiring, NASIC Integrated C4ISR Analysis Squadron flight chief
• Anthony Beiring, NASIC Intelligence Support Squadron Operations IT specialist, brother of Christopher, and uncle of Michael and Veronica.
• Michael Beiring, NASIC Signals Analysis, Squadron electronics engineer, and son of Christopher.
• Veronica Beiring, NASIC Signals Analysis Squadron analyst, daughter of Christopher
None of it was planned. It started when Christopher, a retired Army intelligence officer, suggested his brother Anthony apply for an IT job over two decades ago. Years later, he gave his daughter the same advice.
“I was leaving my first job out of college and my dad said I should apply to NASIC. And that was it,” Veronica said.
The result is a workplace dynamic filled with unique moments, especially during the festive season when squadron parties and morale events bring everyone together.
“I find it kind of funny,” Veronica said. “I feel like most people don’t know, so when I shout something silly at them in the hall, we get some interesting looks.”
Her brother, Michael, who works in the same squadron, gets to see her commitment to the NASIC community up close.
“My sister is a very passionate person about teambuilding and morale,” Michael said. “She is one of the officers in the Morale Force, so she helps put together events. I am glad she does this.”
Their uncle, Anthony, has his own take on the family encounters.
“(Christopher) stops by ISS Operations asking why things are not working. I give him the same answer as I do to everyone else—I’m working on it.” The brotherly ribbing is constant.
“Every time I run into him, (Christopher) claims I’m the older of the two of us brothers,” Anthony said. “We all know that’s not true, but I am the smarter one.”
As the year winds down, the family looks forward to their own holiday traditions, which mirror the larger gatherings they enjoy at work.
“Both Thanksgiving and Christmas are typically celebrated at my grandparents’ house on my dad’s side, so I get to see my dad, uncle, and brother there,” Veronica said.
“We all get together to eat huge meals and just spend time together.”
For Veronica, joining NASIC also solved a childhood mystery about her father’s career.
“If I asked my dad what he did, he’d tell me he’d have to kill me if he told me,” Veronica said. “Very hush-hush work, but now I work here myself and can tell people that same line!”
That close family bond is something the Beirings see reflected in the wider NASIC community, especially as the holidays approach.
“The holiday season is typically a great time to showcase ‘family’ at NASIC in how we celebrate both with our teammates in the office and our families at home,” Veronica noted.
For Anthony, the idea of being a work family is about reliability and support, especially during challenging times.
“It’s about building a sense of trust, collaboration, and teamwork, where everyone knows they can rely on their colleagues to help get the job done, no matter what,” Anthony said.