WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio – On June 27, a graduation ceremony was held at the National Museum of the United States Air Force for Chief Master Sgt. Grace A. Peterson Airman Leadership School Class 24-E.
A total of 24 graduates included two civilians and Air Force soldiers from the 88th Air Base Wing, the National Air and Space Intelligence Center, and units from the Michigan and Wisconsin Air National Guard.
Master Sergeant Terrell Tilley, 88th Diagnostics and Therapeutics Squadron senior leader, guest speaker and mentor for the class, challenged the group to maintain “desirable qualities” and always strive to be leaders on the front lines.
“We want to be a very capable force,” he said. “The most important job in the Air Force by far is frontline leadership. Interestingly enough, in this class they wanted to learn about leadership. Frontline leadership exists in all specialties of the Air Force and you see it at the tactical, operational and strategic levels.
“When leadership on the front lines goes wrong, the wheels fall off the plane, figuratively and literally. And we want wheels on the plane so that planes can take off and we make sure that we fly, fight and win.”
ALS is required for staff sergeant selects and is open to eligible civilians as they learn more about leadership and Air Force culture. It prepares personnel to supervise and lead Air Force and Space Force teams.
Senior Airman Vincent Mattox of NASIC’s Geospatial Intelligence Analysis Squadron won the John L. Levitow Award, which is given to the top graduate of his class.
“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 the 88th ABW commander. She said she took the course as a young Airman more than two decades ago and called it one of the “most formative experiences of my Air Force career.”
“The senior NCOs, first sergeants, chiefs, the commanders and everything they put into us is something I still remember to this day,” she said. “I’m in awe of the short time I’ve spent 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 the great power competition that our country is facing.”
With a scene of large aircraft and galleries at 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 this was the most dynamic ALS event he had ever attended.
“Congratulations on your graduation,” he told the Airmen. “I charge you to go out there and be the leader you wanted to be when you were a junior Airman. Lead with the compassion and care that I know you can and hold people accountable to make our Air Force the best it can be.”
Below is the list of graduates (with the award winners in brackets):
71st Airport Squadron
Senior Airman Ololade Awoyale
88th Communications Squadron
Senior Airman Natalie Ruebelmann
88th Comptroller Squadron
Senior Airman Yesica Vazquez
88th Diagnostic and Therapeutic Squadron
Jacob Bergman
Senior Airman Richard Martinez
88th Squadron Health Care Operations
Senior Airman Asha Daniels
88th Inpatient Operations Squadron
Senior Airman Preem Junior
88th Medical Support Squadron
Senior Airman Christopher Bender
Staff Sergeant Sabrina Matos (Distinguished Graduate)
88th Operational Medical Readiness Squadron
Senior Airman Rachael Hendricks
Senior Airman Abigail Pack
88th Operational Support Squadron
Senior Airman Calvin Redding (Academic Achievement Award)
88th Squadron of the Security Services
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 Zijders
911th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron
Senior Airman Devin Deans (Leadership Award)
Air Force Installation Contract Center
Senior Airman Andrea Christensen
Area Defense Law Firm
Senior Airman Hailey Leonard
National Aeronautical and Space Intelligence Center
Senior Airman Daniel Madden
Senior Airman Vincent Mattox (John L. Levitow Award, Outstanding Graduate)
United States Air Force School of Aeronautical Medicine
Senior Airman Jamiera Stamper-Duffy
