MacDill Maintenance Officer, Staten Island native, leads deployed aircraft maintainers

Photo By Master Sgt. April Wickes | Capt. Jaclyn Cordero is a maintenance officer with the 380th Expeditionary Maintenance Squadron at a non-disclosed base in Southwest Asia. She is pictured her ein front of the base's September 11th memorial. She is deployed from the 6th Maintenance Operations Squadron at MacDill Air Force Base, Fla., and her hometown is Staten Island, N.Y.  

(UNDISCLOSED LOCATION)

06.25.2010

Story by Tech. Sgt. Jeremy Larlee 

380th Air Expeditionary Wing

SOUTHWEST ASIA -- Capt. Jaclyn Cordero is a maintenance officer for the 380th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron at a non-disclosed base in Southwest Asia.

Cordero is deployed from the 6th Maintenance Operations Squadron at MacDill Air Force Base, Fla., and her hometown is Staten Island, N.Y.

The Captain who is responsible maintenance actions that directly support flightline operations said her New York upbringing was a key ingredient in her choice to join the Air Force.

"Since high school, I've always wanted to serve my country in some way and being from New York City, the events of September 11th gave me even more motivation," said Cordero. "I joined AFROTC in college and after seeing the mission and working with the people, I knew it was something I wanted to be a part of. "

The captain said a large part of her success is the excellent caliber of the Airman she leads.

"What I do at work is nothing compared to what the men and women of this Maintenance Group do," said Cordero. "They are the ones who are turning the wrenches, repairing parts or equipment, scheduling or launching aircraft. I would not be successful if it wasn't for their hard work. When you can watch an aircraft take off knowing all the effort that went into it and see it safely return after completing a mission that helped save US lives, it's a great feeling."

At the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing, the flightline is a busy place every day. With KC-10 Extender, E-3 Sentry, U-2 Dragon Lady and RQ-4 Global Hawk aircraft taking off for combat missions every day, aircraft maintenance Airmen have to have the generators and other aerospace ground equipment available to keep those aircraft prepped to go at any time.

The captain knows that her Airman play an integral role keeping 380th AEW aircraft in the air.

"Aircraft maintenance is the key in launching safe and reliable aircraft into the fight," said Cordero. "Without the ability to command and control airborne assets with the E-3 Sentry AWACS, refuel combat and support aircraft with the KC-10 Extender, and perform surveillance and reconnaissance operations with U-2 Dragon Lady and RQ-4 Global Hawk aircraft, the lives of ground force are at risk. Without aircraft maintenance, those missions do not happen."

The 380th EMXS is a sub-unit of the 380th AEW. The 380th AEW is comprised of four groups and 12 squadrons and the wing's deployed mission includes air refueling, surveillance and reconnaissance in support of overseas contingency operations in Southwest Asia.

Cordero said that serving in the military is a rewarding experience.

"It's not always an easy job or the most convenient way of life, but it's extremely fulfilling to be a part of something bigger than you," Cordero said. "I have had opportunities that most people only dream about- I've lived in different parts of the US, I've deployed twice, to include performing counter-drug operations in South America, I have been to 25 states and five countries and I met my amazing husband Carlo, all because of the Air Force."

• Date Taken: 06.25.2010
• Date Posted: 06.25.2010 07:37
• Story ID: 51955
• Location: (UNDISCLOSED LOCATION)