Page 6 - Aerotech News and Review, Jan. 6 2017

Edwards ALS graduates largest class ever
by Kenji Thuloweit
Edwards AFB, Calif.
The 412th Force Support Squadron’s Airman Leadership School at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., ended 2016 on a high note by graduating 44 senior airmen and one civilian Dec. 8.
According to 412th Test Wing leadership and ALS staff, the newest crop of graduates is one for the record books.
“Class 17A was the largest class in Edwards history,” said Master Sgt. Daniel Magas, ALS commandant. “The increase in class size is driven by Air Force Total Force initiatives aimed at a greater inclusion of Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard in-residence Enlisted Professional Military Education experiences. This allows our brothers and sisters in arms the opportunity to otherwise get a full ALS experience rather than an online version of the course.”
The Air Force Total Force program also allows civilian Airmen to attend ALS. In February, two civilians from Edwards were the first to graduate from ALS in Air Force Materiel Command.
Air Guard and Air Reserve Airmen are nomi- nated through their respective commands and assigned ALS slots where available, including at Edwards, which Magas said is very accommodat- ing to higher-headquarter needs.
“I personally feel it’s the best thing we could have ever done within the EPME community. Re- gardless of our Air Force component, we serve as Airmen and should be trained in the same regard,” Magas said.
ALS is a five-week U.S. Air Force program designed to develop Airmen into effective front- line supervisors. It is the first professional mili- tary education that enlisted Air Force members encounter. ALS focuses on building leadership and team development abilities as well as effec- tive communication.
Wing leadership says they would also like to expand ALS in the future by inviting sister service and foreign military members on base to attend.
Donald Badgett, 31st Test and Evaluation Squadron, was the John L. Levitow Award Win- ner.
The John Levitow Award is the highest award presented at Airman Leadership School, and is presented to the student that demonstrated the most outstanding leadership and scholastic quali- ties. Selection for the Levitow award is based on academic performance and assignment of points by peers and instructors
Sean Smith, 412th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, and Jesse Chavez, 412th Aircraft Main- tenance Squadron, were Distinguished Graduates.
The Distinguished Graduate Award is presented to the next (10 percent of graduates) person with the highest overall average in all graded areas, and demonstrated a high level of leadership skills.
Douglas Gore, 412th Maintenance Squadron, received the Commandant’s Award, which is pre- sented to the student who has displayed all the characteristics of an effective leader, but is not based at all on academic standings.
And Matthew Watters, 412th Aircraft Main- tenance Squadron, was named the Academic Achiever Award recipient. The award is presented to the student with highest overall average on all academic evaluations.
Other graduates of ALS Class 17A
George Forder, 412th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron
Jeffrey Warner, 412th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron
Jerome Hughes, 412th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron
Sirshawn Kirby, 412th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron
Ronald E. Mansfield III, 412th Aircraft Main- tenance Squadron
Timothy Konrad, 412th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron
Aaron Jaime, 412th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron
Air Force photographs by Joseph Gocong
Left to right: Col. Jason Schott, 412th Test Wing vice commander, presents the Airman Leadership School John L. Levitow Award to Senior Airman Donald Badgett, 31st Test and Evaluation Squadron, along with Chief Master Sgt. Todd Simmons, 412th TW command chief. The Levitow award is presented to the student that demonstrated the most outstanding leadership and scholastic qualities.
Air Force photograph by Joseph Gocong The 412th Force Support Squadron’s Airman Leadership School Class 17A graduated 44 senior airmen and one civilian Dec. 8, 2016, at Club Muroc.
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Shelby Throckmorton, 412th Aircraft Mainte- nance Squadron
Mitchell J.Mosier, 412th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron
Keenan Gibbsaustin, 412th Aircraft Mainte- nance Squadron
Eric Penokie, 412th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron
Austin Leachman, 412th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron
Brandon Gordon, 412th Comptroller Squadron Ryan Chong, 412th Communications Squadron Michael Kaszuba, 412th Maintenance Group
Kenroy Steele, 412th Maintenance Squadron
Kevin Hitchcock, 412th Security Forces Squad- ron
Cristina Little, 412th Security Forces Squadron
Savanna Hignojoz, 412th Security Forces Squadron
Anthony Cavallo, 412th Security Forces Squadron
Keneshia Tinniehill, 412th Security Forces Squadron
Jonathan Slusser, 412th Security Forces Squad- ron
Alexis Connors, 412th Medical Operations Squadron
Austin Duncan, 412th Medical Operations Squadron
Christopher Ramos (civilian), 812th Civil En- gineer Squadron
Victoria Corley, 412th Test Wing
Steven Barnes, 53rd Test and Evaluation Group (Nellis Air Force Base, Nev.)
Virginia Guitierrez, 53rd Test and Evaluation Group
Aaron Gross, 31st Test and Evaluation Squad- ron
Terrell Harris, 912th Air Refueling Squadron (March Air Reserve Base, Calif.)
Kyle Hauck, 912th Air Refueling Squadron (March Air Reserve Base, Calif.)
Rachel Kane, 446th Civil Engineer Squadron (Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash.)
Ryhan Gage, 452nd Force Support Squadron (March Air Reserve Base, Calif.)
Andrea Bower, 56th Aerial Port Squadron (March Air Reserve Base, Calif.)
Thomas Rocky, 452nd Maintenance Squadron
Thomas Collins, 446th Civil Engineer Squad- ron
Evan Williams, 146th Logistics Readiness Squadron (California Air National Guard, Ox- nard, Calif.)
John Raymer, 150th Civil Engineer Flight
Andres Garciaacosta, 144th Civil Engineer Squadron
Amethyst Jefferson, 144th Civil Engineer Squadron
January 6, 2017