JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas –
Name/rank: Tatiana Morales / Airman First Class
Unit: 35th Intelligence Squadron
Duty title: Mission Support Training Element Leader
Time in service: 1 year, 7 months
Hometown: Orlando, Florida
Airman 1st Class Tatiana Morales began her career as a "Teal Rope" whose duty was to mentor new Airmen, assist peers through hardships and provide comfort for those dealing with sexual assault cases. With only 1 year and 7 months of being in the Air Force, Airman 1st Class Tatiana Morales has already logged several dozen hours of community involvement, to include time spent at the Purple Heart Ranch Club helping raise a total of $75,000, 54 hours assisting medical/fire dept/and emergency response crews during base training exercises, and a retreat ceremony for women in the military. Her efforts earned her a Letter of Appreciation from her chief.
Name/rank: Landon Davis / Airman First Class
Unit: Battlefield Airmen Training Group, Det. 1
Duty title: Computer Programming Apprentice
Time in service: 1 year, 4 months
Hometown: Olive Branch, Mississippi
Airman 1st Class Landon Davis built the prototype of a new fitness website, which will provide daily workouts for 1,100 Battlefield Airmen in training. He also conducted procurements and acquisitions for the squadron, group and wing, totaling more than $100,000. Finally, he was promoted to Airman First Class this month, an important milestone in his career.
Name/rank: Christopher A. DiPietro / Staff Sergeant
Unit: 59 Medical Operations Group/Medical Specialty Squadron
Duty title: Pulmonary Functions Supervisor
Time in service: 4 years
Hometown: Livonia, Michigan
Since arriving to the Pulmonary Clinic on the 20th of April, Staff Sgt. Christopher DiPietro has been an exemplary non-commissioned officer. As a new member, he has hit the ground running, seeking leadership experience at every turn. As a young staff sergeant, he has already completed his first Bachelor’s degree in Communications. His drive to excel led to his squadron leadership selecting him to represent the unit as a Security Forces augmentee, where he’s responsible for safeguarding members of the Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland population.
Name/rank: Kristen L. Smith / Airman First Class
Unit: Robert D. Gaylor Noncommissioned Officer Academy
Duty title: Administrator, Student Registrar
Time in service: 2 Years
Hometown: San Antonio, Texas
Airman 1st Class Kristen L. Smith has proven herself to be an invaluable member for the Air Force’s Thomas N. Barnes Center for Enlisted Education. She is assigned to the Robert D. Gaylor Noncommissioned Officer Academy as an administrator in the Student Registrar Office. She coordinated with 10 agencies and 15 feeder bases to process more than 171 students without error. Additionally, she worked 26 commander's programs to include evaluations, decorations, government card purchases, records management and software programing.
Name/rank: Arlecia Smith / Staff Sergeant
Unit: 625th Air Communications Squadron
Duty title: Process Improvement Manager
Time in service: 4 Years
Hometown: Savannah, Georgia
Staff Sgt. Arlecia Smith dedicated three months planning the Department of Defense’s first National Insider Threat Task Force Insider Threat Hub Operations Course. The National Insider Threat Task Force was appointed to ensure all Department of Defense agencies have an established Insider Threat program. This course was designed to certify members on the proper establishment of Insider Threat Hub Operations within their respective organizations. Smith coordinated efforts with the National Insider Threat Task Force to host the course at 25th Air Force headquarters. She coordinated seven instructors, four briefers and 15 volunteers that hosted 48 representatives across six key Department of Defense organizations to include the National Insider Threat Task Force, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Navy, Army, Air Force and the Defense Security Service.
Name/rank: Shelby R. Knight / Senior Airman
Unit: 959 Medical Operations Squadron
Duty title: Orthopedic Technician
Time in service: 6 years 4 months
Hometown: Pueblo, Colorado
Senior Airman Shelby Knight is a shining example of integrity, service and excellence. While assigned to the Brooke Army Medical Center Orthopedic Clinic, Knight constantly seeks opportunities to improve her work section. As the lead technician for the platelet-rich plasma program, she performed 25 procedures employing the patient’s own platelets to expedite healing. Her actions were critical in eliminating the high cost of joint fluid replacement medications and lowering the risk for adverse outcomes. Airman Knight served as the Phase II practical instructor for 5 joint service students. She demonstrated and certified 48 core tasks guaranteeing a 100 percent graduation rate.
Name/rank: Pierce Pirson / Airman First Class
Unit: 802nd Force Support Squadron
Duty title: Identification Card Technician
Time in service: 1 year, 6 months
Hometown: Pine Bluff, Arkansas
Airman 1st Class Pierce Pirson is always the sharpest looking Airman in the department. As an Airman First Class, his uniform can put some senior non-commissioned officers to shame, looking impeccable every day. Pirson not only does he look the part of an Airman but he shows up every day with a smile; even when he came off leave and came into work for a full Saturday shift where the department issued 178 identification cards in less than seven hours. Additionally, he is one of the most experienced technicians and subject matter experts in his department. In the second quarter, he produced more than a thousand identification cards. He is a member of the new identification card online team and was promoted to a Site Security Manager position.