Page 7 - March ARB Beacon 10-30-15

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From spinning records to digital age music
by Charlie Gill
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Walk by this former Air Force NCO’s room at the
American Forces Network (AFN) Broadcast Center in
Riverside and you’ll hear music classics: rock and roll at
its finest -- and maybe, if he’s in the mood, a little Sinatra. of the leap into the digital world. The volume of com-
Kent Peterson knows about music. He also knows
about American Forces Network (AFN) history. Pe-
terson started with AFN in November, 1995. In those
days, many years ago, he played music – not from a
file on a computer, but from 18-inch records. Video
was recorded onto two-inch tapes from a cumbersome
recorder. He focused black and white studio cameras
loaded with film.
Forward to 1986 and Peterson was the last weekend
and holiday supervisor at the American Forces Radio and
Television Service (AFRTS) Broadcast Center in Holly-
wood. He worked every Saturday all day, every Sunday
all day and all holidays. No joy on Friday for Peterson.
When AFRTS moved to Sun Valley, California, back in
1988, Peterson established the TV Traffic Department.
He did it all.
He was a TV operator, and of course worked over-
nights. In 1997 he moved to TV as a Spectrum Scheduler/
Planner and later Movie Scheduler along with Spectrum.
Peterson also took on correcting problems with the TV li-
brary and some 60,000 program items. When the project
was completed he had reported 12,000 problem items. To
keep him even busier, he took on the task of preparing
reports for supplier payments.
It would be conservative to say that Peterson is a
conversationalist. In fact, six years ago, he joined
Toastmaster’s to hone his public speaking skills. His
ability to communicate exceptionally well paid off. He
attained the status of Distinguished Toastmaster (the
highest level in Toastmasters), Qualified Speaker sta-
tus and has served as a judge at the International level.
He has received various other accolades while in Toast-
masters. Peterson also stepped up to leadership roles.
He just finished his duties as District 12 Governor for
March ARB defender honored by L.A. Galaxy
October 30, 2015 7
Toastmasters. He was responsible for 120 clubs, ap- '0$SKRWR0&6:%LOO\+R
proximately 1,600 members in clubs from Barstow to
Temecula and Pomona to Blythe. .HQW3HWHUVRQPHGLDPDQDJHU$)1%URDGFDVW
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Six years ago Peterson became the AFN Broadcast VRRQWREHFLYLOVHUYDQWUHWLUHH
Center’s Media Manager. He was up to the challenge
learned a lot from Kent over the years. His rich experi-
munications with suppliers went from approximate- ence and history working in many AFN roles around the
ly 2,000 in 1999 to over 22,000 in the last year. He world, and his passion for the mission and especially the
worked with more than 200 contacts including those people, have been an inspiration for countless broadcast-
in media delivery, finance and contracting offices. Pe- ers, programmers, producers and fellow managers,” Ma-
terson went from managing more than 40,000 tapes at rotta said. “I will always smile when I think of Kent. He
one time to managing at least 200,000 files. He worked brings a deep sense of humanity and humor to everything
with 30 different financial offices and 140 different he does and everyone he meets.”
suppliers. He coordinated with 20 different depart-
ments in the building. As media manager, he took care No one who can deadpan better than Peterson, said
of programming from cradle-to-grave. Marotta, who still falls for Peterson’s antics. “We won’t
just lose a colleague when Kent departs. We will lose a bit
“Kent has one of the most positive and hard-working of our heart and soul,” Marotta said.
attitudes of anyone I have worked for, or with previously,”
said Heather Metz, his colleague. “Every day is some- Now a retired Master Sgt. and soon to be a retired civil
thing different and unexpected. He has taken me under servant, Peterson’s office will be a little quieter. Oh, he’ll
his wing to make sure I have all the tools I need to suc- still handle media, but that of his choosing, in his own
ceed in this position,” she said. time, and at his own place.
Peterson welcomes questions, comments and concerns
to better the organization, Metz said.
“He continues to keep my mind sharp whether it be
a game of ‘guess that tune’ or ‘word association.’ He
has quite the vast diversity when it comes to the music
he blasts from Jim Stafford to Chumbawamba to Katy
Perry,” Metz said. “On rare occasion, he even takes
song requests. He does different voices and is always
up to have a good time and make someone’s day with a
joke or friendly ‘hello.’ His enthusiasm, kindness, hu-
mor and fun personality will be greatly missed around
these halls,” she said.
Although Metz has been with Peterson only a short
time, AFN Director of Television, Larry Marotta, has
known Peterson for much longer, having worked together
nearly 30 years ago at the previous broadcast center in
Sun Valley, California.
“He was a Tech. Sgt. and I was new to civil service. I
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