Wyoming Air National Guard Airmen recognized for educational and professional achievement

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Charles Delano
  • 153rd Airlift Wing
CHEYENNE, Wyo. --  A ceremony recognizing and celebrating the academic and professional achievements of 153rd Airlift Wing airmen was held at  Trails End on F.E. Warren Air Force Base. Airmen who recently graduated from the Community College of the Air Force, newly promoted Staff Sgts. And Master Sgts. were honored during the event.

153rd Airlift Wing Commander Col. Paul Lyman gave the commencement speech where he linked the pursuit of an education to mission success.

"Our airmen must be critically thinking in complex situations to guarantee mission success in this unstable world.  The best way to do that is to embrace lifelong learning and pursuing a CCAF degree does this.  I'm proud of every airmen who received their CCAF degree," said Lyman.

State Command Chief Master Sgt. William Whipple presented the Pitsenbarger Award to Master Sgt. Victoria Lopez for her outstanding leadership, teamwork, community service, education goals and academic achievement.

"MSgt. Lopez is very deserving of the prestigious award, she presently has three degrees from the Community College of the Air Force and is finishing a bachelor's degree in Human Resource Management," said Whipple.

In addition to the award, she received a certificate and monetary contributions from the Air Force Association and Wyoming Cowboy Chapter of the Air Force Association to help defray the cost of pursuing a bachelor's degree.

90th Civil Engineering Squadron operations flight chief Senior Master Sgt. Wendell Snider spoke to the newly promoted non-commissioned officers and Senior NCOs and charged them with going the extra mile and the importance of being effective leaders.

"As airmen we must go the extra mile to be excellent at what we do. Our nation and our allies are depending on us to execute our duties with quality and pride at a moment's notice," said Snider.

"In the end, when our enlistment or career has ended, we will realize that we were the chosen wingmen who safeguarded America and the Air Force's rich heritage in the 21st century."