127 Years of Family Serving Family: James Noble, Little Rock Air Force Base

One in a series honoring the Exchange’s 127 years of family serving family.

Who he is: James Noble, assistant store manager, Little Rock Air Force Base

Years with the Exchange: 16 years

What brought him to the Exchange: “I grew up around Navy and Marine Corps Exchanges … a Navy brat,” Noble said. “My dad retired from the Navy, and our family moved to Arkansas once he retired.”

Where he’s worked: Little Rock AFB

What he did at first: Noble began his first job at the Little Rock AFB Exchange as a food service worker at Burger King in 2006. “When I got out of high school, my older sister was already working at the Exchange. I didn’t think it would become a career, but it has.”

What he does now: He leads the store team at the Exchange’s main store.

Memorable moments: Noble left the organization briefly and was laid off from that job in 2008. He returned to the Exchange as a custodian at the Class Six. “When I first got laid off, I was out of work for about a month,” he said. “Since I left the Exchange on good terms, a former manager reached out and said there was an opening, so I reapplied. It’s nice to have the job security here. A lot of companies don’t have that.”

Exchange connections: His sister, Amanda Walls, is a shift manager for the Class Six at Little Rock AFB. She’s been with the Exchange for 16 years. “Our parents live here and shop at the Exchange often. They keep my daughter while my wife and I are at work.”

Family serving family: “Over the years you get to know a lot of the customers and build relationships with the regulars,” he said. “I appreciate the service and sacrifice they’ve made, so it’s an honor giving back to them.”