Ceremony honors 24 Airman Leadership School graduates Published July 8, 2024 By Vince Little 88th Air Base Wing Public Affairs WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio – A graduation ceremony for Chief Master Sgt. Grace A. Peterson Airman Leadership School Class 24-E took place June 27 at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force. In all, there were 24 graduates, including two civilians and Airmen from the 88th Air Base Wing, National Air and Space Intelligence Center, and Michigan and Wisconsin Air National Guard units. Chief Master Sgt. Terrell Tilley, 88th Diagnostics and Therapeutics Squadron senior enlisted leader, guest speaker and class mentor, challenged the group to maintain “desirable qualities” and always strive to be front-line leaders. Chief Master Sgt. Terrell Tilley, 88th Diagnostics and Therapeutics Squadron senior enlisted leader and guest speaker, congratulates the graduates of Chief Master Sgt. Grace A. Peterson Airman Leadership School Class 24-E at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, June 27, 2024. Class 24-E completed a five-week course that prepares staff sergeant selects and eligible civilians for leadership responsibilities. (U.S. Air Force photo by Ashley Richards) Photo Details / Download Hi-Res “We want to be a highly capable force,” he said. “The most important job in the Air Force by far is front-line leadership. Interestingly enough, this class – the No. 1 thing they wanted to learn about was leadership. Front-line leadership exists across all Air Force specialties, and you’ll see it at the tactical level, the operational level and the strategic level. “When front-line leadership goes wrong, the wheels figuratively and literally fall off the plane. And we want wheels on the plane so aircraft can take off and we ensure that we fly, fight and win.” ALS is required for staff sergeant selects and open to eligible civilians as they learn more about leadership and Air Force culture. It prepares personnel to supervise and lead Air and Space Force teams. Senior Airman Vincent Mattox of NASIC’s Geospatial Intelligence Analysis Squadron captured the John L. Levitow Award, which goes to the class’s top graduate. “One thing I learned is what a good supervisor is and what a good supervisor is not,” he said. Chief Master Sgt. Tessa Fontaine was attending her first ALS graduation as 88 ABW command chief. She recounted going through the course more than two decades ago as a young Airman, calling it among the “most formative experiences in my Air Force career.” “The senior NCOs, first sergeants, chiefs, the commanders and everything they poured into us is something I still remember to this day,” she said. “I have been impressed in the short amount of time I’ve had to spend with our graduates. I have the utmost confidence in their ability to go out there and lead our Air Force and be the leaders we need in the midst of great power competition with what our nation is facing.” Col. Dustin Richards, 88th Air Base Wing and installation commander, speaks to graduates of Chief Master Sgt. Grace A. Peterson Airman Leadership School Class 24-E at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, June 27, 2024. Class 24-E completed a five-week course that prepares staff sergeant selects and eligible civilians for leadership responsibilities. (U.S. Air Force photo by Ashley Richards) Photo Details / Download Hi-Res With a scene featuring large aircraft and galleries in the Air Force Museum, an energetic crowd and lively music throughout the ceremony, Col. Dustin Richards – 88 ABW and installation commander – delivered closing remarks, saying it was the most dynamic ALS event he ever attended. “Congratulations on your graduation,” he told the Airmen. “I charge you to go out and be the leader that you wanted to have when you were a junior Airman. Lead with the compassion and care I know you’re capable of and hold people accountable to help make our Air Force as good as it can be.” Below is the list of graduates (with award winners in parenthesis): 71st Aerial Port Squadron Senior Airman Ololade Awoyale 88th Communications Squadron Senior Airman Natalie Ruebelmann 88th Comptroller Squadron Senior Airman Yesica Vazquez 88th Diagnostics and Therapeutics Squadron Jacob Bergman Senior Airman Richard Martinez 88th Healthcare Operations Squadron Senior Airman Asha Daniels 88th Inpatient Operations Squadron Senior Airman Preem Junio 88th Medical Support Squadron Senior Airman Christopher Bender Staff Sgt. Sabrina Matos (Distinguished Graduate) 88th Operational Medical Readiness Squadron Senior Airman Rachael Hendricks Senior Airman Abigail Pack 88th Operations Support Squadron Senior Airman Calvin Redding (Academic Achievement Award) 88th Security Forces Squadron Senior Airman Morgan Lettich Senior Airman Ethan Ravak 110th Logistics Readiness Squadron Senior Airman Shayne Smith 126th Air Refueling Squadron Senior Airman Margaret Miller 595th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron Senior Airman Kristiana Kuni 788th Civil Engineer Squadron Caleb Siders 911th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron Senior Airman Devin Deans (Leadership Award) Air Force Installation Contracting Center Senior Airman Andrea Christensen Area Defense Counsel Office Senior Airman Hailey Leonard National Air and Space Intelligence Center Senior Airman Daniel Madden Senior Airman Vincent Mattox (John L. Levitow Award, top graduate) U.S. Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine Senior Airman Jamiera Stamper-Duffy Col. Dustin Richards (far left), 88th Air Base Wing and installation commander, and Chief Master Sgt. Tessa Fontaine (at right), 88 ABW command chief, pose with award recipients during the Chief Master Sgt. Grace A. Peterson Airman Leadership School Class 24-E graduation at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, June 27, 2024. Class 24-E completed a five-week course that prepares staff sergeant selects and eligible civilians for leadership responsibilities. (U.S. Air Force photo by Ashley Richards) Photo Details / Download Hi-Res