Page 8 - Aerotech News and Review – December 5, 2025

8 December 5, 2025
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Creech Fire awarded Civilian Achievement Medals
by Kimberly Goff
Creech AFB, Nev.
The heroes of Creech Fire and Emergency Services at Creech Air Force Base, Nev., were awarded the Civilian Achievement Medal after they responded to the scene of a patient suffering cardiac arrest in the neighboring community of Indian Springs last June.
Michael Gajonera, Johnny Romero-Nunez, and Mark Hughes, assigned to the 432nd Support Squad- ron, leapt into action, providing lifesaving support and eventually coordinating a Life Flight to airlift the patient to safety.
Creech Fire is the primary emergency response agency for Indian Springs, so they’re a critical asset to us and our neighbors across the highway. We are beyond grateful to be served by these consummate professionals!
Michael Gajonera, Johnny Romero-Nunez, and Mark Hughes, assigned to Creech Fire and Emergency Services, 432nd Support Squadron, are awarded the Civilian Achievement Award during the 3rd Quarter Awards ceremony at Creech Air Force Base, Nev, Oct. 23, 2025. They were recognized for their efforts in helping a civilian who suffered cardiac arrest in the neighboring community of Indian Springs. Creech Fire is the primary emergency response agency for Indian Springs.
Air Force photograph by Kimberly Goff
22nd ATKS officer honored with community award
AEROTECH NEWS
by Senior Airman Renee Blundon
Creech AFB, Nev.
Capt. Carol Stephens, an MQ-9 Reap- er pilot with the 22nd Attack Squadron here, was recognized on Sept. 15, 2025, by the Rotary Clubs of Southern Nevada with the Safety Officer Award Recogni- tion award.
Founded in 2000 by the Rotary Clubs of Southern Nevada, the SOAR award was created to honor the “ordinary” professionals who consistently perform in an extraordinary way, the quiet heroes who protect and strengthen their com- munities every day. The program has grown from eight participating agencies to 18, recognizing more than 1,000 hon- orees over 25 years while championing Rotary’s Four-Way Test and the ideal of Service Above Self.
“Captain Stephens represents the best of who we are and what we do,” said the 22nd ATKS Commander, who presented the award. “She’s an exceptional of- ficer and aviator, lethal when it counts, humble always, and she makes everyone around her better. I trust her implicitly with any task.”
Since the start of the year, Stephens has f lown numerous combat sorties, providing critical intelligence, surveil- lance and reconnaissance that directly supported the removal of high-value targets. She advanced rapidly through instructor and mission commander cer-
Air Force photograph by Senior Airman Renee Blundon
The 22nd Attack Squadron Commander presents Capt. Carol Stephens, 22nd ATKS MQ-9 Reaper remotely piloted aircraft pilot, the Safety Officer Award Recognition during a ceremony at Las Vegas City Hall, Nev., Sept. 15, 2025. She was honored for her leadership in combat operations, deployment readiness, and mentorship, as well as her selfless service to the local and global community.
and strengthening squadron resilience. Stephens was handpicked by the squadron commander to serve as the squadron safety officer, a high-visibility role requiring advanced mishap investi-
gation training.
“From day one, she was a ‘fire-and-
forget’ leader,” said Capt. Corbett Light, 22nd ATKS Assistant Director of Opera- tions. “You give her intent, and she runs with it, calm under pressure, tactically sharp, and relentlessly focused on taking care of people.”
Despite winning the SOAR award and being selected to be the squadron safety officer, Stephens was quick to acknowl- edge her teammates’ contributions.
“I’m honored, and honestly humbled,” she said. “So many of my peers are doing exceptional work every day. Any rec- ognition I’m receiving is a reflection of our whole team and the mentors who’ve invested in me.”
Her squadron commander echoed that sentiment. “What we do is a team sport,” he said. “There are standout per- formers, and Capt. Stephens is certainly one of them. She believes in the mission, she’s committed to it, and she lives ‘Ser- vice Before Self’ in and out of uniform.”
The 22nd ATKS, part of the 432nd Wing, conducts persistent attack and re- connaissance operations with the MQ-9 Reaper to defend the nation, support joint and coalition forces and safeguard the homeland.
tifications, setting the pace for her peers and contributing to the overall growth of squadron qualifications and training progression.
Beyond the cockpit, Stephens served as Chief of Readiness and Unit Deploy- ment Manager, carefully managing
aircrew readiness and leading deploy- ment preparation for multiple overseas taskings and large-scale exercises. She also overhauled the operations facility’s Shelter-in-Place plan and coordinated extensive reconstitution training, ensur- ing continuous MQ-9 mission capability