Photo By W.C. Pope | Tech. Sgt. Amelia Leonard, public affairs craftsman from Westover Air Reserve Base, Mass.... read more read more
Tech. Sgt. Amelia Leonard has been assigned as a public affairs specialist at the 439th Airlift Wing, Westover Air Reserve Base, Mass., since April, 2015. She was previously assigned to the 349th Air Mobility Wing, Travis Air Force Base, Calif.
Since 2009, she has worked in the Public Affairs Air Force Specialty code, performing numerous roles including writer, editor, photo editor, photographer, videographer and social media manager.
Sergeant Leonard joined the Air Force in 2009 after graduating with a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism, with an emphasis in broadcast and political science from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, Mass.
She attended basic training at Lackland AFB, Texas, followed by technical school at the Department of Defense Information School in at Ft. Meade, Md.
When she arrived to her first duty station, the Public Affairs officer in her shop was deployed, and as a Senior Airman, she was thrown into the role in his absence. She stayed on full-time orders for several months, and was tasked by the wing commander to establish a social media presence and social media policy for the wing. Two years later, her public affairs skills were put to the test during three back-to-back operational readiness exercises and a subsequent operational readiness inspection. She was awarded the exercise evaluation team professional performer and Inspector General’s superior performer and superior team awards. Her skills were further tested in 2014, after a fatal crash during an Air Show at Travis. Her PA skills were instrumental in the smooth response to query from senior leadership and external media outlets.
In April, 2015, she transferred to Westover where she was immediately put on active duty orders in support of the 2015 Great New England Air Show. The GNEAS was an enormous success, with more than 300,000 spectators. Leonard provided media, photography, social media and videography support. The following year, with three members of the shop deploying, she volunteered to be activated to help sustain the mission of the Public Affairs office. While on orders, she had seven stories featured on the Air Force Reserve Command website, increased the Facebook audience by nearly 1,000, and was nominated for the AFRC Outstanding Communication NCO award, as well as NCO of the quarter twice.
Her work has appeared in military publications including – The Contact, The Patriot, and numerous military websites and social media outlets.
EDUCATION:
2007 – Associate of Arts Degree, Las Positas College, Livermore, Calif.
2009 ¬¬– Bachelor’s Degree, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Mass.
2010 – Basic Military Training, Lackland AFB, Texas
2013 – Airman Leadership School, via correspondence
2016 – Non-Commissioned Officer Academy in progress, via correspondence
ASSIGNMENTS:
May 2009 - April 2015 – Public Affairs Journeyman, 349th Air Mobility Wing, Travis AFB, Calif.
April 2015 - present – Public Affairs Craftsman, 439th Airlift Wing, Westover ARB, Mass.
AWARDS AND DECORATIONS:
AF Commendation Medal
AF Outstanding Unit Award with two oak leaf clusters
Air Reserve Forces Meritorious Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster
National Defense Service Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
AF Longevity Service Award
AF Training Ribbon
| Date Taken: | 11.09.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 11.09.2016 08:22 |
| Story ID: | 214220 |
| Location: | CHICOPEE, MASSACHUSETTS, US |
| Web Views: | 609 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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