BUCKLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. – Col. Daniel A. Dant, 460th Space Wing commander, certifies the Community College of the Air Force degrees that the graduates have just received. The June 29, 2012, graduation culminates the completion of 60 credit hours. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Riley Johnson)
BUCKLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. – Community College of the Air Force graduation guest speaker Chief Master Sgt. William Ward, 460th Space Wing command chief, addresses graduates June 29, 2012. Ward spoke on the importance of the CCAF degree and education among the enlisted corps. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Riley Johnson)
by Staff Sgt. Nicholas Rau
460th Space Wing Public Affairs
7/2/2012 - BUCKLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- The Buckley Education and Training Center hosted the 2012 Community College of the Air Force spring graduation June 29 to celebrate the accomplishments of 82 Team Buckley members.
"The CCAF degree is a strategic degree used for furthering your career for now and for after your service," explained Allison Garner, BETC education specialist. "It requires dedication, perseverance and personal time to complete your CCAF degree."
The graduation guest speaker, Chief Master Sgt. William Ward, 460th Space Wing command chief, congratulated the graduates on their accomplishment while stressing the importance of the degree they were about to receive.
"The CCAF degree remains the most important degree for enlisted advancement," said Ward. "It is extremely important to the enlisted corps and plays a vital role in their core competencies."
To obtain a CCAF degree students are required to complete 60 credit hours. These credit hours are broken down into categories of the following; 24 technical education, 15 general education, 15 elective programs, six leadership/management education and four physical training hours. While this may seem like a lot, service members have a multitude of options available to them to complete their degree.
The first step is technical training school which will satisfy some, if not all, of the technical education credit hours, explained Garner. There are also CLEP and DANTES exams for individuals looking for a quicker completion plan to the traditional civilian college class.
The CCAF degree is the first degree many service members will receive in their careers, and for just as many, it may be the first in their household.
"For a lot of people graduating, they are first person in their family to get a degree," said Garner. "It creates a legacy. It impacts their personal lives and uplifts the other airman around them. "
The command chief reminded the graduates that their responsibility lies not only with their career, but with the mission as well. Making the CCAF degree a crucial part of their professional development.
"The CCAF degree is not a desire," said Ward, "it is an expectation as a non-commissioned officer."
The 2012 CCAF graduates are listed below:
Staff Sgt. Larissa L. Aldrich, 460th Medical Group - Ophthalmic Technician
Staff Sgt. Landon B. Anglin, 566th Intelligence Squadron - Communications Applications Technology
Master Sgt. John W. Azbell, 460th Force Support Squadron - Social Services Multimedia
Tech. Sgt. David J. Bader, Air Reserve Personnel Center - Information Systems Technology
Staff Sgt. Michael D. Ball, 460th Medical Group - Allied Health Science
Senior Airman Tierra L. Baugh - Logistics
Senior Airman Veronica Bogle - Communications Applications Technology
Master Sgt. William C. Briggs, 566th Intelligence Squadron - Intelligence Studies & Technology
Staff Sgt. David A. Camarena, 566th Intelligence Squadron - Intelligence Studies & Technology
Tech. Sgt. Edward V. Canell, 460th Security Forces Squadron - Criminal Justice
Staff Sgt. Cristavo P. Cheung, 2nd Space Warning Squadron - Air & Space Operations Technology
Staff Sgt. Jeffrey L. Clark, 460th Operations Group - Munitions Systems Technology, Air & Space Operations Technology
Senior Airman Andrew P. Clarke - Electronic Systems Technology
Airman 1st Class Kassandra L. Cunningham, 460th Medical Group - Bioenvironmental Engineering
Tech. Sgt. Jeffrey Dausey, 460th Security Forces Squadron - Criminal Justice
Staff Sgt. James A. Degeus, 460th Space Wing - Emergency Management
Staff Sgt. Theresa R. Derby, 460th Contracting Squadron - Contract Management
Senior Airman Zachary S. Diamanti, 460th Medical Group - Health Care Management
Staff Sgt. Beau W. Dickens, 460th Operations Group - Air & Space Operations Technology
Airman 1st Class William H. Dietrich, 460th Civil Engineering Squadron - Mechanical and Electrical Technology
Staff Sgt. Brandon L. Dinkins, 460th Security Forces Squadron - Criminal Justice
Staff Sgt. David E. Duritsky, 460th Security Forces Squadron - Criminal Justice
Staff Sgt. Diana D. Faber - Intelligence Studies & Technology
Senior Airman Sean K. Filer, 460th Space Communications Squadron - Electronic Systems Technology
Senior Airman Michael G. Fisher, 460th Operations Group - Communications Applications Technology
Tech. Sgt. William A. Frame, 566th Intelligence Squadron - Intelligence Studies & Technology
Staff Sgt. Jorge A. Garcia, Aerospace Data Facility-Colorado - Scientific Analysis Technology
Tech. Sgt. Russell H. Gately - Human Resource Management
Master Sgt. Cheryl M. Gehring, Air Reserve Personnel Center - Education & Training Management, Human Resource Management
Retired Senior Master Sgt. Michael W. Gerber - Aircrew Safety Systems Technology
Tech. Sgt. Nichole L. Gladkowski - Criminal Justice
Senior Airman Fonterra S. Groves, 460th Security Forces Squadron - Criminal Justice
Tech. Sgt. Haley R. Hall, 460th Comptroller Squadron - Financial Management
Master Sgt. Leslie D. Handy, 460th Medical Group - Medical Laboratory Technology
Staff Sgt. John W. Harms, 2nd Space Warning Squadron - Air & Space Technology
Master Sgt. Kristen K. Hickey, 460th Space Communications Squadron - Electronic Systems Technology
Master Sgt. Brian J. Hickey, 460th Space Wing - Electronic Systems Technology
Retired Master Sgt. Rick A. Hiltman, 460th Civil Engineering Squadron - Medical & Electrical Technology
Airman 1st Class Nathan A. Hoag, Detachment 45 - Scientific Analysis Technology
Tech. Sgt. Dustin J. Holk, 566th Intelligence Squadron - Intelligence Studies & Technology
Master Sgt. Michael R. Hughes, Air Reserve Personnel Center - Human Resource Management, Information Systems Technology
Staff Sgt. Eric S. Iverson, Aerospace Data Facility-Colorado - Information Systems Technology
Staff Sgt. Charles R. Jawney, 566th Intelligence Squadron - Communications Applications Technology
Tech. Sgt. Keith D. Kirkland - Aviation Maintenance Technology, Education & Training Management
Senior Airman Brandon Knapp, 460th Space Communications Squadron - Electronic Systems Technology
Staff Sgt. Wayne M. Lardizabal, 566th Intelligence Squadron - Intelligence Studies & Technology
Staff Sgt. Bradford D. Lewis, 2nd Space Warning Squadron - Aviation Maintenance Technology
Senior Airman Jeffrey R. MacGibbon - Communications Applications Technology
Retired Master Sgt. Rebecca M. McClintock, 460th Force Support Squadron - Human Resource Management
Staff Sgt. Alexis T. McCray, Air Reserve Personnel Center - Human Resource Management
Tech. Sgt. Jonathan M. McKeever, 460th Medical Group - Dental Assisting
Master Sgt. Keith A. McKinion - Transportation
Staff Sgt. Michael P. Mechaley, 460th Force Support Squadron - Instructor of Technology and Military Science
Staff Sgt. Ramon A. Montoya, Air Reserve Personnel Center - Aviation Maintenance Technology - Human Resource Management
Master Sgt. Bradley J. Moses, 460th Security Forces Squadron - Human Resource Management
Tech. Sgt. Samuel L. Owensby, 460th Operations Group - Communications Applications Technology
Tech. Sgt. Kimberley I. Parker, 460th Logistics Readiness Squadron - Logistics
Staff Sgt. Brian R. Parker - Information Systems Technology, Criminal Justice
Staff Sgt. Coleman D. Powell, 460th Operations Support Squadron - Air & Space Operations Technology, Criminal Justice
Master Sgt. Johannes W. Redmond, 460th Security Forces Squadron - Criminal Justice
Staff Sgt. Kevin D. Robertson, 460th Operations Support Squadron- Air & Space Operations Technology
Staff Sgt. Mark A. Rush, Detachment 6 - Electronic Systems Technology
Staff Sgt. Carlo Paulo T. Salilican, 460th Medical Group - Public Health Technology
Master Sgt. Richard N. Sander - Criminal Justice
Retired Tech. Sgt. Timothy A. Sanders - Restaurant Hotel and Fitness
Senior Airman Jacob M. Sinovic, 460th Space Communications Squadron - Electronic Systems Technology
Staff Sgt. Ethan M. Smith, 566th Intelligence Squadron - Communications Applications Technology
Senior Airman Carlos A. Soto - Financial Management
Senior Airman Victor Stewart, 566th Intelligence Squadron - Intelligence Studies & Technology
Senior Master Sgt. Joann Sutton, Air Reserve Personnel Center - Human Resource Management, Logistics
Senior Airman Vincent P. Vitale, 566th Intelligence Squadron - Communications Applications Technology
Master Sgt. Donna Wagner, Air Reserve Personnel Center - Human Resource Management
Tech. Sgt. Jennifer L. West, Air Reserve Personnel Center - Human Resource Management
Tech. Sgt. Barbara J. Whitaker - Human Resource Management
Master Sgt. Andrea L. Wiley, Air Reserve Personnel Center - Human Resource Management
Staff Sgt. Danny Wong, 460th Medical Group - Allied Health Sciences
Staff Sgt. Nicole L. Woodford, Air Reserve Personnel Center - Information Systems Technology
Tech. Sgt. Bradford D. Worley, 460th Operations Group - Munitions Systems Technology, Air & Space Operations Technology
Senior Master Sgt. Ronald B. Wuis, Air Reserve Personnel Center - Human Resource Management
Staff Sgt. Ken Wyllie, 2nd Space Warning Squadron - Air & Space Operations Technology
Staff Sgt. Travis W. Yewell - Air & Space Operations Technology
Senior Airman Benjamin R. Young, 460th Comptroller Squadron - Financial Management
