Page 4 - Luke AFB Thunderbolt, December 2021

December 2021 News www.aerotechnews.com/lukeafb
United, yet Unique:
Don’t judge a book by its cover
4
Thunderbolt http://www.luke.af.mil
Master Sgt. Courtney Richardson
Reserve Citizen Airman Staff Sgt. Stephen Zan- zucchi, 944th Maintenance Squadron munitions support equipment maintenance crew chief, poses for a photo at Luke Air Force Base, Ari- zona, October 5. Zanzucchi was an elementary school teacher prior to joining the U.S. Air Force Reserve and wrote children’s books to encour- age his students to read.
by Staff Sgt. TYLeR J. BoLken
944th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
Military service brings people from different backgrounds together unlike most other career paths can. Reserve Citizen Airmen are united in uniform and cause, but are often uniquely differ- ent out of uniform.
One Reserve Citizen Airman with the 944th Fighter Wing maintains bombs while on duty, however, is a creator off-duty. Staff Sgt. Stephen Zanzucchi, 944th Maintenance Squadron muni- tions support equipment maintenance crew chief, is a published author of six children’s books, of which an estimated 50,000 copies have been sold.
Zanzucchi, is a Phoenix native who joined the Air Force Reserve in 2016 at the age of 34.
“Teaching was a passion of mine so I began working at an elementary school eight years ago,” he said.
Zanzucchi, husband and father of six, was pulled to educating the younger generation.
“It’s the best age range,” Zanzucchi
said about the elementary age students. “They’re young enough that they’re not overly defiant, there’s still a sweet little kid in there.”
Zanzucchi did not set out to write chil- dren’s book. He admits the inspiration came from one of his charges.
“One of my sweet students came up to me one day and was pretty upset about having to read one of the school’s books,” Zanzucchi said. “When I asked him why, he said ‘because it’s boring’.”
He initially thought nothing of it, but decided to pick the book up and read it for about five minutes.
“He was right,” Zanzucchi said, refer- ring to his student. “No wonder kids don’t want to read.”
This was in 2010, well before Zanzuc- chi had decided to join the Air Force, but his desire to serve was already strong and in this case, in service of his students.
“Hearing that student’s disappoint- ment, I thought to myself I can write better than that,” Zanzucchi said. “That was when I decided I was going to write a kids book.”
As Zanzucchi modestly put it, he didn’t
do it to become famous or a millionaire. His books are about the common experi- ences and adventures of young adoles- cents that he saw daily.
“I hoped the kids would enjoy it and I always like picking up new hobbies for the characters,” he said. “They seem to love my books.”
Although the journey may have started with his students at school, Zanzucchi said it really hit home for him when he saw his own kids enjoying his books.
“Seeing them sitting there on the couch, reading the book and giggling at it – I did that,” Zanzucchi said. “Even if the books were a huge flop, that moment made it all worth it.”
Tech Sgt. Gage Carter, 944th MXS ord- nance equipment mechanic and Zanzuc- chi’s supervisor, jokes with Zanzucchi, telling him that he is like Superman’s alter ego, Clark Kent.
“I found out he was an author shortly after he joined the unit,” said Carter. “I was a little surprised.”
Carter explained that he wasn’t so
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