• DALLAS
Tommy Ward, senior vice president (SVP) of the Army & Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES) Credit Program, is retiring in early August after more than 20 years with the Exchange.
Joseph Todd, who was formerly Vice President (VP), Finance and Technology in the Exchange Credit Program, will succeed Ward.
WARD’S RESUME
Ward came to AAFES in September 2002 as a financial management trainee after gaining his bachelor’s degree in major finance at Oklahoma State University, and in August 2023, he was named process project specialist, Controller Division.
The executive gained his first of many positions in the Exchange Credit Program in March 2024, as a business analyst, and during the next several years, he served in a variety of positions in that program, including financial analyst II and III; financial analyst III focusing on corporate analysis and budget, and later, focusing on the Europe and Southwest Asia Region.
In October 2010, Ward became a senior pension analyst, later becoming a pension fund investment manager and then, assistant treasurer.
In February 2016, Ward left AAFES to become managing partner, fixed operations for Leisure Time RV Center, based in Oklahoma City, Okla.
He returned to the Exchange in November 2017 as VP, credit operations, and in October 2019, he assumed the role of SVP, Exchange Credit Program.
PARTING WORDS
During an Exchange Leaders Inspiring Networks and Knowledge (LINK) Program session, Ward spoke about the people he worked with and how he tried to inspire them to give their maximum effort.
“When it comes to leaving a legacy, I think it’s less about a specific goal and more about the consistent effort you put in,” he said.
“It’s about the meaningful relationships you build along the way with your co-workers and peers,” he explained. “The impact you leave is often a reflection of how you treated those people and the example you set for them every day.”
To motivate his teams, Ward said he often used variations of a five-word phrase: “You’re going to dominate today.”
“We’d have a difficult task, and I’d say, ‘We’re going to dominate this, guys, don’t worry about it’,” he said. “Or I’d come in and see someone not super-excited to be there. And I’d say, ‘Hey — Are you ready? You ready to dominate today? You’re going to dominate today!’
“It started catching on, and over time associates picked up on it. … It’s a powerful and fun way of saying, ‘I’m not going to just show up today and go through the motions. I’m going to own the day and I’m going to give it my best every day.’”
Source: AAFES
Edited by Larry Lapka
