An official website of the United States government
Here's how you know
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Home : News : News
JBSA News
NEWS | Aug. 6, 2020

JBSA First Sergeant Diamond Sharp Awards

By 502nd Air Base Wing Public Affairs 502nd Air Base Wing Public Affairs

The Diamond Sharp Award is sponsored by the Joint Base San Antonio First Sergeants Council and recognizes outstanding Airmen who continually exceed the standard to meet the Air Force mission.


Rank/Name: Senior Airman Marrina Pedrego
Unit: 616th Operations Center
Job Title: Intelligence Analyst/Honor Guard

Senior Airman Marrina Pedrego is part of the 616th Operations Center at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland as an intelligence analyst. However, she has been serving with the Joint Base San Antonio Honor Guard during the past 10 months as a guardsman and has conducted more than 100 military funeral honors.  She is a fully certified guardsman trainer and has instructed more than 16 new guardsmen thru 170 sequences and certified them in the field. She has demonstrated her esprit de corps and she epitomizes what we want when request volunteer Airman from the JBSA units.  


Rank/Name: Airman Danielle Lowell
Unit: 75th Intelligence Squadron
Job Title: Commander Support Section Technician

Airman Danielle Lowell has demonstrated the utmost professionalism when dealing with daily customers and base agencies when her section’s manning recently decreased by 33 percent. She expertly oversaw the unit’s leave program where she fast-tracked three emergency leave requests in less than 24 hours. She also scrutinized the 2020 staff sergeant promotion testing roster and coordinated with the base testing center to solidify test dates for 12 members. Lowell also executed in-processing actions for 16 recently assigned members, matching newcomers with various program managers and liaisons. Lowell takes pride in knowing that she makes a positive impact on the mission each and every day.


Rank/Name: Senior Airman Khilesh Tumbahangphe
Unit: 502nd Communications Squadron
Job Title: Client Systems Technician

Senior Airman Khilesh Tumbahangphe’s work ethic and drive for success have been instrumental in tackling emergency maintenance on hardware and software for mission-critical devices and for distinguished visitors at the command level. Not only did he assist with the resolution of 102 computer outages, but was also vital in the standup of the squadron’s first-ever service desk. Tumbahangphe was selected as a team lead for the Windows 10 version 5.7 Standard Desktop Configuration upgrade, ensuring that JSBA was compliant with Air Force Network standards. He proved himself as a trilingual individual by passing the Defense Language Proficiency Test in both Hindi and Nepali.


Rank/Name: Airman 1st Class Jacqueline A. Kelley
Unit: 502nd Operations Support Squadron
Job Title: Airfield Management Operations Coordinator

Airman 1st Class Jacqueline A. Kelley has hit the ground running since arriving at Joint Base San Antonio, completing her Airfield Management Operations Coordinator certification in 50 percent of the allowed time, accomplishing all requirements three months early. This has allowed her to step up and provide support to all JBSA-Kelly Field mission partners, as transient heavy aircraft operations surged 100 percent since the coronavirus pandemic began. Her professionalism and motivation solidified her being hand-selected to assist with the escort for the immersion tour of the airfield for Air Education and Training Command’s new vice commander, Maj. Gen. William A. Spangenthal.


Rank/Name: Tech. Sgt. Stephen J. Trotter
Unit: 833rd Cyberspace Operations Squadron
Job Title: Cyber Maintenance Instructor

Tech. Sgt. Stephen J. Trotter’s leadership and expertise were recognized when he was selected to become an instructor. He aced the 67th Cyberspace Wing’s first virtual Instructor Methodology Course and his presentation was so well crafted that course instructors asked for his presentation material to share as an example to future classes. After graduation, Trotter developed vital course material to train operators on a next-generation deployable cyber defense kit the 833rd COS will use for upcoming overseas deployments.  He also spearheaded the building of the squadron’s first-ever training pipeline geared toward certification of cyber maintenance personnel to support Cyber National Mission Force global operations.


Rank/Name: Tech. Sgt. Jeremy Boquist
Unit: Air Force Services, Readiness
Job Title: Air Force Services Readiness Program Manager

Tech. Sgt. Jeremy Boquist coordinated with three major commands to rewrite the Army and Air Force Exchange Service’s Non-Appropriated and Appropriated Funds Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures Handbook. He also teamed with vehicle support chain operations to rewrite the vehicle business rules. Boquist worked with the Air Force Honor Guard, Air Force Mortuary Affairs Office and Air Force food operations to identify uniform and equipment requirements for funding in the modernization efforts of a combat-ready Airman initiative. Boquist also worked with the Air Force Institute of Heraldry and the Air Force Personnel Center’s historian for modernization of the Prime RIBS patch and staffed the pre-approved patch to the career field manager.


Rank/Name: Airman 1st Class Kayla J. Agnew
Unit: Joint Personal Property Shipping Office
Job Title: Shipment Distribution Technician

Airman First Class Kayla Agnew has displayed impeccable customer service for 90,000 Department of Defense customers and is a vital asset to the Joint Personal Property Shipping Office. Agnew coordinated 92 outbound shipments, averaging a 0.58-day booking time, far exceeding the Department of Defense’s three-business-day standard. She has vetted 75 inquiries, 16 short-fuse shipments, and facilitated 19 date-change requests. Agnew revitalized customer service telework standards by responding to 120 calls, minimizing internal transfers between sections and reducing call waiting time. She cultivated unit cohesion by conducting two virtual on-the-job training sessions for an inbound NCO.  Her attention to detail ensured smooth permanent change of station transitions for 3,608 service members and families.


Rank/Name: Staff Sgt. Sarah A. Banks
Unit: 802nd Security Forces Squadron
Job Title: Military Working Dog Trainer

Staff Sgt. Sarah A. Banks is positive, earnest and professional at all times.  She often sought out for advice on advancing the capabilities of Military Working Dogs. Banks’ high-caliber training regimen, coupled with her drive to lead, has culminated in her being selected to the 341st Dog Training School. As the primary point of contact for the Air Force Assistance Fund campaign for the 802nd Security Forces Squadron, and even with the recent increase of COVID-19 positive cases across Texas and JBSA degrading the potential of the campaign, she continued to work tirelessly, enabling the 502nd Air Base Wing to collectively raise more than $15,000 dollars during the pandemic. 


Rank/Name: Master Sgt. Christopher Cook
Unit: 2nd Air Force Technical Training Operations Center, Det. 1
Job Title: Classifications Interviewer

Master Sgt. Christopher Cook has adapted to the ever-changing COVID-19 preventative measures. He revamped the Enlisted Classifications schedule to meet mission requirements. His efforts enabled the successful telecommuting rotation for eight interviewers, allowing the classification of 500 Basic Military Training trainees every week. During this time, he implemented a workplace move to the Pfingston Reception Center at JBSA-Lackland with zero mission impact.