More than 50 Wright-Patt staff sergeants selected for promotion Published July 21, 2023 By Kayla Prather 88th Air Base Wing Public Affairs Staff Sgt. Sarah Waddell, Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, accepts her nameplate during the technical sergeant release party July 14 outside the Wright-Patt Club. Fifty-three staff sergeants at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, were selected for promotion in 2023. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class James Johnson) Photo Details / Download Hi-Res WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio – Wright-Patterson Air Force Base hosted its technical sergeant release party July 14. Fifty-three Airmen made the list of new selects out of just 5,354 Air Force-wide. With the lowest rate selection in over 25 years, only 14.5% of Airmen made rank this year. “I feel so happy,” said Staff Sgt. Cristal Pittman, 711th Human Performance Wing. “This is the first rank that I have made where I had a consistent goal set that I am trying to achieve and I feel like it is attainable – hopefully from here, it is an upward trend.” Leadership from the 88th Air Base Wing thanked the supervisors, leaders and families who helped get the new technical sergeant selects to the point where they are today. “Congratulations to those that have been selected,” said Col. Travis Pond, 88 ABW vice commander. “You are now our most technical experts – you are supervisors, you are leaders.” This selection was the most competitive in 25 years, officials said, making the celebration even more meaningful to the Airmen recognized. During the release party, Airmen reflected on why being promoted to technical sergeant meant so much. Technical sergeant selects salute the flag during the playing of the national anthem July 14 outside the Wright-Patt Club. More than 50 staff sergeants at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, were selected for promotion. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class James Johnson) Photo Details / Download Hi-Res “For me, making this rank shows not only myself, but my daughter, that anything is achievable,” said Staff Sgt. Charles Rideout, 711th Human Performance Wing. “It not only shows her strong leadership, but what setting and achieving your goals looks like.” Technical sergeants are the second level of NCOs in the Air Force. They are qualified to perform complex technical duties and supervision. “Becoming a technical sergeant gives me the leadership experiences to not only gain technical skills, but to be able to lead people regardless of where my future takes me,” said Staff Sgt. Jillian Vazquez, National Air and Space Intelligence Center. “I feel like no matter where I go, I can take these military core values and leadership experiences with me – this also gives my family a good foundation that’s built with integrity and striving for excellence.” Technical sergeants are responsible for the career development of Airmen. Selects highlighted that mentors and leaders helped guide them throughout the process, providing a mirror image of what they want to become in the future. “What are the two hardest ranks to make?” asked Chief Master Sgt. Lloyd Morales, 88 ABW command chief. “Technical and senior. You all have already cracked the code on one, so continue to do the best things that you are doing.” Chief Master Sgt. Lloyd Morales (right), 88th Air Base Wing command chief, delivers remarks during the technical sergeant release party July 14 outside the Wright-Patt Club. Fifty-three staff sergeants at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, were selected for promotion in 2023. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class James Johnson) Photo Details / Download Hi-Res All the selects beamed with pride after the ceremony, sharing laughs and camaraderie with friends, co-workers and loved ones. “You are going to do amazing things,” Morales said. “Continue to build teams, build up yourself, develop others, develop ideas and develop your organization.” Below is the list of 2023 technical sergeant selects from Wright-Patterson AFB: A mock campfire in front of the American and Air Force flags sets the scene for the technical sergeant release party July 14 outside the Wright-Patt Club. More than 50 staff sergeants at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, have been selected for promotion. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class James Johnson) Photo Details / Download Hi-Res Staff Sgt. Lindsey Alexander Staff Sgt. Kareem Beckles Staff Sgt. Anthony Biagi Staff Sgt. Sherry Bland Staff Sgt. Jacob Brown Staff Sgt. Benjamin Duck Staff Sgt. Christopher Escobar Staff Sgt. Devin Firestone Staff Sgt. Tyler Boraas Staff Sgt. Garrett Gray Staff Sgt. Mary Hicks Staff Sgt. James Walker Staff Sgt. Joseph Jones Staff Sgt. Keenan Knop Staff Sgt. Andrew Lawson Staff Sgt. Zachary Nicewarner Staff Sgt. Daniel O’Connor Staff Sgt. Nana Ofosuyeboah Staff Sgt. Clayton Oveson Staff Sgt. David Pegg Staff Sgt. Gomez Ramirez Staff Sgt. Bradley Schreer Staff Sgt. Johnathan Seppala Staff Sgt. Patrick Smith Staff Sgt. Lyric Stoy Staff Sgt. Steven Stoy Staff Sgt. Robert Taylor Staff Sgt. Melissa Thompson Staff Sgt. Aysha Truett Staff Sgt. Steven Wineman Staff Sgt. Brittany Barnes Staff Sgt. Lacey Pina Staff Sgt. Megan Brewer Staff Sgt. Kayla Carswell Staff Sgt. Molly Feuerhak Staff Sgt. Hannah Gaddie Staff Sgt. Ariana Galjour Staff Sgt. Matthew Ketterling Staff Sgt. Gabrielle Konopczk Staff Sgt. Jake Luceri Staff Sgt. Uchechi Onwuanaibe Staff Sgt. Delilah Pina Staff Sgt. Cristal Pittman Staff Sgt. Allen Potter Staff Sgt. Charles Rideout Staff Sgt. Queneth Salazar Staff Sgt. Jared Schweitzer Staff Sgt. David Staubs Staff Sgt. Jacob Swisher Staff Sgt. Jillian Vazquez Staff Sgt. Sarah Waddell Staff Sgt. Skyla Warden Staff Sgt. Brenden Fredrickson