WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio – A graduation ceremony for Chief Master Sgt. Grace A. Peterson Airman Leadership School Class 24-E took place June 27 at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force.
In all, there were 24 graduates, including two civilians and Airmen from the 88th Air Base Wing, National Air and Space Intelligence Center, and Michigan and Wisconsin Air National Guard units.
Chief Master Sgt. Terrell Tilley, 88th Diagnostics and Therapeutics Squadron senior enlisted leader, guest speaker and class mentor, challenged the group to maintain “desirable qualities” and always strive to be front-line leaders.
“We want to be a highly capable force,” he said. “The most important job in the Air Force by far is front-line leadership. Interestingly enough, this class – the No. 1 thing they wanted to learn about was leadership. Front-line leadership exists across all Air Force specialties, and you’ll see it at the tactical level, the operational level and the strategic level.
“When front-line leadership goes wrong, the wheels figuratively and literally fall off the plane. And we want wheels on the plane so aircraft can take off and we ensure that we fly, fight and win.”
ALS is required for staff sergeant selects and open to eligible civilians as they learn more about leadership and Air Force culture. It prepares personnel to supervise and lead Air and Space Force teams.
Senior Airman Vincent Mattox of NASIC’s Geospatial Intelligence Analysis Squadron captured the John L. Levitow Award, which goes to the class’s top graduate.
“One thing I learned is what a good supervisor is and what a good supervisor is not,” he said.
Chief Master Sgt. Tessa Fontaine was attending her first ALS graduation as 88 ABW command chief. She recounted going through the course more than two decades ago as a young Airman, calling it among the “most formative experiences in my Air Force career.”
“The senior NCOs, first sergeants, chiefs, the commanders and everything they poured into us is something I still remember to this day,” she said. “I have been impressed in the short amount of time I’ve had to spend with our graduates. I have the utmost confidence in their ability to go out there and lead our Air Force and be the leaders we need in the midst of great power competition with what our nation is facing.”
With a scene featuring large aircraft and galleries in the Air Force Museum, an energetic crowd and lively music throughout the ceremony, Col. Dustin Richards – 88 ABW and installation commander – delivered closing remarks, saying it was the most dynamic ALS event he ever attended.
“Congratulations on your graduation,” he told the Airmen. “I charge you to go out and be the leader that you wanted to have when you were a junior Airman. Lead with the compassion and care I know you’re capable of and hold people accountable to help make our Air Force as good as it can be.”
Below is the list of graduates (with award winners in parenthesis):
71st Aerial Port Squadron
Senior Airman Ololade Awoyale
88th Communications Squadron
Senior Airman Natalie Ruebelmann
88th Comptroller Squadron
Senior Airman Yesica Vazquez
88th Diagnostics and Therapeutics Squadron
Jacob Bergman
Senior Airman Richard Martinez
88th Healthcare Operations Squadron
Senior Airman Asha Daniels
88th Inpatient Operations Squadron
Senior Airman Preem Junio
88th Medical Support Squadron
Senior Airman Christopher Bender
Staff Sgt. Sabrina Matos (Distinguished Graduate)
88th Operational Medical Readiness Squadron
Senior Airman Rachael Hendricks
Senior Airman Abigail Pack
88th Operations Support Squadron
Senior Airman Calvin Redding (Academic Achievement Award)
88th Security Forces Squadron
Senior Airman Morgan Lettich
Senior Airman Ethan Ravak
110th Logistics Readiness Squadron
Senior Airman Shayne Smith
126th Air Refueling Squadron
Senior Airman Margaret Miller
595th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron
Senior Airman Kristiana Kuni
788th Civil Engineer Squadron
Caleb Siders
911th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron
Senior Airman Devin Deans (Leadership Award)
Air Force Installation Contracting Center
Senior Airman Andrea Christensen
Area Defense Counsel Office
Senior Airman Hailey Leonard
National Air and Space Intelligence Center
Senior Airman Daniel Madden
Senior Airman Vincent Mattox (John L. Levitow Award, top graduate)
U.S. Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine
Senior Airman Jamiera Stamper-Duffy
Date Taken: | 07.08.2024 |
Date Posted: | 07.10.2024 10:40 |
Story ID: | 475683 |
Location: | WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, OHIO, US |
Web Views: | 39 |
Downloads: | 0 |
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