HILL AIR FORCE BASE -- The "mayor" of Hill Air Force Base is up for a promotion.
Col. Sarah Zabel, current commander of the base's 75th Air Base Wing, has been nominated by President Barack Obama for promotion to a one-star brigadier general.
Zabel was one of 39 colonels across the Air Force to receive the one-star nomination.
Zabel said she was both honored and surprised when she received the news of her promotion.
"I was surprised, (because) I knew the chances of promotion were pretty slim," she said. "Every year, the Air Force promotes about 400 to 500 people to the rank of colonel, and fewer than 40 to brigadier general."
Now she only awaits approval from the Senate before her new title becomes official.
When it does become official, Zabel won't likely retain her current commander post for very long.
"There's no immediate timetable or job change associated with my nomination," Zabel said, "but the 75th Air Base Wing commander is a position designated for a colonel.
"Assuming my nomination is approved by the Senate, I would at some point be moved to a position designated for a brigadier general."
Zabel became the commander of the air base wing in June when she took over for Col. Patrick Higby.
As commander of the air base wing, Zabel essentially serves as the base's mayor.
The wing provides installation support for the Ogden Air Logistics Center, both the 388th and 419th Fighter Wings and 61 other associate units, totaling 24,000 active-duty military, civilian and contractor personnel.
She was previously stationed at the nation's capital, where she served in the Pentagon's Net Services program.
Zabel graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1987.
When she joined the Air Force, Zabel said, she simply wanted to be productive and the issue of rank never really crossed her mind.
"I've always wanted to do my best and succeed in the Air Force, but when I first joined, I didn't have a particular goal or expectation with regard to what rank I would achieve," she said.
"I just wanted to go where I am useful and effective. That's the same today."
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