Surfing Web for teaching job lands history buff at Malmstrom Published March 9, 2007 By Airman 1st Class Emerald Ralston 341st Space Wing Public Affairs Office MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. -- Andrew Billman, the 341st Space Wing's new historian, has been on the job for about five months. No stranger to history, Mr. Billman stumbled upon this job while looking for a teaching job online. He said the historian job caught his eye because he was seeking a teaching position in the history field. With a keen interest in history as well, he gave his master's dissertation on military history, focusing on Army and Navy cooperation in war, as well as the origins of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. A former Navy Corpsman, he said the job also caught his eye because in his years of military service, he noted the Air Force had a very good reputation for treating their people well. Supporting the mission of the 341st Space Wing by writing annual base histories and providing documentation for inquiries, the historian serves as the wing's technical authority and advisor for professional aspects of the Air Force history and museum program. His job is to identify, select and organize div ersified information from sources throughout the wing to document historical activities. The historian also provides wing leaders and subordinate commanders historical perspective for wing projects and policy-making decisions. He synthesizes information and writes an accurate and objective narrative account of the wing's major operations and responsibilities. Mr. Billman presents complete coverage and adequately presented written history on an annual basis to the wing commander. "I support the mission of the 341st Space Wing by providing the base history annually," said Mr. Billman. "I also provide documentation for any inquiries and get it to anyone who wants any historical background for briefings, etc. " A regular day for the historian currently includes organization, documentation and indexing all the unclassified files, many of which have no dates or names attached, Mr. Billman said, as he motioned to the office full of filing cabinets, and the stacks of files, folders, paper and photos covering his desk and the surrounding area. "The biggest challenge I've faced since I've been here has been organizing the office," the San Diego native said, noting that there were also 200 videos that needed to be indexed and a file cabinet full of unmarked photographs. Mr. Billman frequently works with retired Chief Master Sgt. Curt Shannon, who is the director of the Malmstrom Museum. "He does a great job over there," Mr. Billman said. "He's a great resource and support. Whenever I need any historical information, he's the first one I call." As the office all comes together, Mr. Billman said, "It's a work in progress and I feel at home in this position and I'm very happy to be here."