Page 4 - Luke AFB Thunderbolt July 1 2016

July 2016 Spotlight Thunderbolt
http://www.luke.af.mil
4 www.aerotechnews.com/lukeafb
USFWS selects
Luke Airman ‘fit to fight’ BMGR for award

Story and photo by Staff Sgt. Story and photo by
STACI MILLER SUSAN GLADSTEIN

56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs 56th Range Management Office Public Affairs

LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. — Staff Sgt. Keli LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. — The Barry M.
Manglona, 56th Maintenance Group weapons quality as- Goldwater Range has been selected as the U.S. Fish and
surance inspector, used motivation and dedication to rise Wildlife Service’s 2015 Military Conservation Partner
from amateur to professional ghting. Award recipient.
Manglona got into ghts as a child, he said. In the 10th
grade, he met a teacher who forever changed his life. The award, presented in a ceremony June 9, is a na-
“I was about to get in a ght right outside the school tional award presented annually to a military installation
and my social studies teacher stopped us and told us if we whose efforts represent signi cant conservation accom-
were going to ght, we needed to come to his gym and do plishments achieved in partnership with the service and
it right,” Manglona said. “I went to the gym that night but other conservation agencies.
the other guy never showed.”
Manglona started practicing mixed martial arts that day, The Barry M. Goldwater Range encompasses 1.7 mil-
and the potential schoolyard ght turned into something lion acres of relatively unfragmented land of the Sonoran
great for him. Desert and is home to roughly 300 to 400 native plant
Since then, his determination and love for the sport species and 320 wildlife species, including three federally
led him to train with multiple high-level gyms in various listed species under the Endangered Species Act of 1974:
states and countries. Sonoran pronghorn antelope, lesser long-nosed bat, and
“Every day I learn something new, so every day I train is Acuña cactus. The U.S. Air Force’s 56th Fighter Wing
always a rewarding day,” he said. “One of my old professors at Luke Air Force Base and the U.S. Marine Corps Air
would always say there’s nothing that a good day of rolling Station Yuma manages these and other resources of the
can’t cure, and I believe that completely.” BMGR under a combined integrated natural resources
But when he isn’t rolling with partners on the mats, he’s management plan.
serving at Luke Air Force Base and supporting his wife
Kaila, his 4-year-old daughter, Anella, and his 2-year-old “The Luke AFB and MCAS Yuma range manage-
son, Manasseh. Manglona’s work ethic in MMA has also ment of ces do a phenomenal job in working with the
positively affected his work performance. Fish and Wildlife Service and other partner agencies to
“Martial arts transfers directly into our military life- manage the diverse natural resources of the Barry M.
style,” he said. “At Luke, we train like we ght, and it’s Goldwater Range,” said Brig. Gen. Scott Pleus, 56th FW
the same way in the gym. I always have to make sure I’m commander. “Our decisions and conservation efforts are
doing my job exactly right.” Staff Sgt. Keli Manglona, 56th Maintenance Group made in a collaborative fashion to ensure a consistent
weapons quality assurance inspector, balances life as application of policy and principle across the southern
The next big step for Manglona is to earn his brown belt an Airman and as a professional mixed martial artist. Arizona region as a whole.”
in Jiu Jitsu, a form of martial arts.
“There are white, blue, purple, brown and black belts,” Dr. Benjamin Tuggle, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
he said. “A white belt is like a high school diploma, a blue right to stay in shape. His healthy lifestyle keeps him ready Southwest regional director, presented the award to Pleus
belt is an associates and a purple belt is a bachelors. I’m at all times, whether he’s called to war from the Air Force and Marine Corps Col. Ric Martinez, Marine Corps Air
working on getting my masters and hopefully someday I’ll or called to step into the ring. Either way he works hard Station Yuma commanding of cer.
have a doctorate or a black belt in jiu jitsu.” toward his goals and appreciates every day.
“I’m always humbled when I visit our partner mili-
To do this, Manglona continues to train daily and eat “I am so grateful to do what I love by being in the Air See BMGR, Page 6
Force and training martial arts,” he said.

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