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JBSA News
NEWS | Jan. 3, 2017

Joint Base San Antonio names military ambassadors

Ten service members from across Joint Base San Antonio were chosen to represent their respective military services as part of the 2017 Military Ambassadors program.

Throughout the year, they will represent their service and JBSA at events throughout South Texas, including nearly 50 activities associated with Fiesta San Antonio April 10-27, according to Kathy Salazar, JBSA public affairs specialist. Fiesta, which began in 1891, is one of the nation’s premier festivals, with an economic impact of more than $284 million for the Alamo City.

Taking part in the event not only allows the military ambassadors to play integral roles for JBSA’s community relations program, but it permits the continuation of a tradition that goes back to 1891 when the granddaddy of Fiesta events, the Battle of Flowers, began, Salazar said.

“During the event, the Army provided its band to lead the first parade in horse-drawn carriages and supplied a number of carriages for others participating in the parade,” Salazar said. “In the 1960s, both the Fiesta San Antonio Commission and local military commanders decided there should be a single point of contact - a military coordinator.”

2017 U.S. Army Military Ambassadors

Sgt. 1st Class Lee M. Wright is a native of Beaumont, Texas, and is the platoon sergeant for the 717th Military Intelligence Battalion at JBSA-Lackland. A graduate of the Primary Leadership and Development Courses, Basic Noncommissioned Officer Course and Senior Leader Course, his overseas service includes two deployments to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and three deployments to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Spc. Catherine L. Trisch, a native of Gainesville, Fla, is a geospatial engineer for the 543rd Engineer Detachment Geospatial Planning Cell at U.S. Army North at JBSA-Fort Sam Houston. She is continuing education in geography and geographical information systems at Park University.

2017 U.S. Marines Military Ambassadors

Gunnery Sgt. Tajanna Draher is assigned to the 4th Reconnaissance Battalion at JBSA-Fort Sam Houston, where she provides supply, logistical, inventory, and accounting service support. The Albuquerque, N.M. native procures materials, supplies, equipment and services necessary to support the 4th Reconnaissance Reserve Marines mission.

Sgt. Keven D. Beasley is assigned to the 4th Reconnaissance Battalion at JBSA-Fort Sam Houston, where he is the assistant supply administration and logistics chief. The Warren, Mich., native’s responsibilities include ensuring all supply related tasks such as procurement of maintenance repair parts, management of property records, and maintaining the supply warehouse, are being conducted accurately.

2017 U.S. Navy Military Ambassadors

Petty Officer 1st Class Cindy Gallego is assigned to the Navy Medicine Training Support Center at JBSA-Fort Sam Houston. Hailing from Elizabeth, N.J., she serves as a Navy Medical Laboratory Instructor for 33-68K10/8506 Joint Service Medical Laboratory Technician chemistry course by providing instruction for more than 130 Sailor and Soldiers.

Petty Officer 2nd Class Adonis M. Lowery is assigned to the Naval Technical Training Center Lackland, 341 Training Squadron Military Working Dog School at JBSA-Lackland. Originally from Alexandria, Va., Lowery ensures working dog assets for the Department of Defense are proficient in all aspects of explosive/drug detection and patrol bite work prior to their assignment to installations worldwide.

2017 U.S. Coast Guard Military Ambassadors

Petty Officer 1st Class Ernesto Campos is assigned to the Coast Guard Recruiting Office San Antonio, where he is a recruiter for the state of Texas and covers a vast area covering San Angelo, Austin, Killeen, San Antonio and Laredo. His responsibility is to support to the recruiting mission by enlisting qualified applicants to be the next generation of Coast Guard members. The El Paso, Texas, native also provides career guidance and support for college students and graduates interested in the Coast Guard.

Petty Officer 3rd Class Christine Mesta is assigned to the Coast Guard Cryptologic Unit-Texas. A native of Saipan, Northern Marianna Islands, Mesta provides support to Coast Guard assets by providing products that can assist to conduct drug interdictions, migrant interdictions, and provide search and rescue and coastal security.

2017 U.S. Air Force Military Ambassadors

Tech. Sgt. Marie Sarabia, from Las Cruces, N.M., is assigned to the 149th Force Support Squadron at JBSA-Lackland and organizes and executes programs to enlist and appoint quality personnel to satisfy strength requirements of the 149th Fighter Wing and Texas. She also coordinates and disseminates recruiting information and establishes effective relations with the local community.

Staff Sgt. Nicholas J. Gooden-Bustamante is a military facilitator at the 326th Training Squadron, 737th Training Group, 37th Training Wing, JBSA-Lackland. The Pembroke Pines, Fla., native supervises and leads the training for more than 3,640 newly enlisted Airmen annually through the Air Force’s “Airmen’s Week,” which equips Airmen to transition from a solid Basic Military Training foundation to the personalization of the Air Force core values in order to strengthen their professionalism and resiliency.