Dintinguished Coast Guardsman

McGHEE TYSON AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Tenn. – Coast Guardsman, Petty Officer 1st Class Jaensen Lewis assigned to the Puerto Rico Military Entrance Processing Station, San Juan, watches the graduation ceremony here of 57 Airman Leadership School and 266 Air Force Noncommissioned Officer Academy graduates from the Paul H. Lankford Enlisted Professional Military Education Center. Lewis graduated in the top 10 percent of his NCOA class as a Distinguished Graduate. Students from other service components, the Total Force and partner nations often attend courses at the Air National Guard’s Lankford EPME Center. (National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Kurt Skoglund)

Parting lesson

McGHEE TYSON AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Tenn. – Guest speaker, Chief Master Sgt. Denise Jelinski-Hall, senior enlisted advisor to the Chief of the National Guard Bureau, challenges 57 Airman Leadership School and 266 Air Force Noncommissioned Officer Academy graduates to achieve their best here April 4 at the I.G. Brown Training and Education Center. (National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Kurt Skoglund)

Chief Master Sgt. Paul H. Lankford

Chief Master Sgt. Paul H. Lankford was a survivor of the Bataan Death March in the Philippine Islands and in a Japanese prison camp for three years who went on to help stand up the Air National Guard’s premiere school for enlisted leadership. The Paul H. Lankford Professional Military Education Center at McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base, Tenn., is his legacy. Lankford served as commandant from 1968 to 1981. He passed away in 2008 with more than 42 years of service in the active duty Air Force and Air Guard. (U.S. Air Force file photo/Released)

Iowa guardsman is top ALS grad

McGHEE TYSON AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Tenn. - Senior Airman Brennan M. Gill, right, receives the John L. Levitow honor award for Airman Leadership School Class 12-6 at the I.G. Brown Training and Education Center from Timothy J. Cathcart, commander, July 19, 2012. The John L. Levitow award is the highest honor awarded a graduate of any Air Force enlisted professional military education course. (National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Kurt Skoglund/Released)

Airman Leadership School Class 12-6, A-Flight

McGHEE TYSON AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Tenn. -- Airman Leadership School Class 12-6, A-Flight, gathers at the I.G. Brown Training and Education Center, July 16, 2012. (National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Kurt Skoglund/Released)

ALS Class 12-4 distinguished graduate

McGHEE TYSON AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Tenn. - Senior Airman Clinton Holsinger, right, receives the distinguished graduate award for Airman Leadership School Class 12-4 at the I.G. Brown Training and Education Center from Chief Master Sgt. Thomas K. Stoudt, June 7, 2012. The distinguished graduate award is presented to students in the top ten percent of the class. It is based on objective and performance evaluations, demonstrated leadership, and performance as a team player. (Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Kurt Skoglund/Released)

ALS Class 12-4 distinguished graduate

McGHEE TYSON AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Tenn. - Senior Airman Evan Morris, right, receives the distinguished graduate award for Airman Leadership School Class 12-4 at the I.G. Brown Training and Education Center from Chief Master Sgt. Thomas K. Stoudt, June 7, 2012. The distinguished graduate award is presented to students in the top ten percent of the class. It is based on objective and performance evaluations, demonstrated leadership, and performance as a team player. (Air National Guardphoto by Master Sgt. Kurt Skoglund/Released)

ALS Class 12-4 distinguished graduate

McGHEE TYSON AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Tenn. - Senior Airman Derek Gulbrandson, right, receives the distinguished graduate award for Airman Leadership School Class 12-4 at the I.G. Brown Training and Education Center from Chief Master Sgt. Thomas K. Stoudt, June 7, 2012. The distinguished graduate award is presented to students in the top ten percent of the class. It is based on objective and performance evaluations, demonstrated leadership, and performance as a team player. (Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Kurt Skoglund/Released)

ALS Class 12-4 leadership award

McGHEE TYSON AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Tenn. - Senior Airman Derek Gulbrandson, center, receives the Paul H. Lankford commandant award for Airman Leadership School Class 12-4 at the I.G. Brown Training and Education Center from Chief Master Sgt. Donald Felch, left, and Chief Master Sgt. Lawrence W. Kirby, June 7, 2012. The leadership award is presented to the student who made the most significant contribution to the overall success of the class by demonstrating superior leadership abilities and excellent skills as a team member. It is named in honor of CMSgt Paul H. Lankford, a Bataan Death March survivor and the first commandant of the Air National Guard Enlisted Professional Military Education Center. (Air National Guardphoto by Master Sgt. Kurt Skoglund/Released)

NCOA Class 12-5 Levitow Award

McGHEE TYSON AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Tenn. - Tech. Sgt. Aaron Pence, right, receives the John L. Levitow honor award for NCO Academy Class 12-5 at the I.G. Brown Training and Education Center here from TEC commander Col. Timothy J. Cathcart, June 7, 2012. The John L. Levitow award is the highest honor awarded a graduate of any Air National Guard enlisted professional military education course. (Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Kurt Skoglund/Released)

NCOA Class 12-5 distinguished graduate award

McGHEE TYSON AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Tenn. - Tech. Sgt. Jordan Benjamin, right, receives the distinguished graduate award for NCO Academy Class 12-5 at the I.G. Brown Training and Education Center here from Chief Master Sgt. Thomas K. Stoudt, June 7, 2012. The distinguished graduate award is presented to students in the top ten percent of the class. It is based on objective and performance evaluations, demonstrated leadership, and performance as a team player. (Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Kurt Skoglund/Released)

NCOA Class 12-5 distinguished graduate award

McGHEE TYSON AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Tenn. - Tech. Sgt. Julie Stephens, right, receives the distinguished graduate award for NCO Academy Class 12-5 at the I.G. Brown Training and Education Center here from Chief Master Sgt. Thomas K. Stoudt, June 7, 2012. The distinguished graduate award is presented to students in the top ten percent of the class. It is based on objective and performance evaluations, demonstrated leadership, and performance as a team player. (Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Kurt Skoglund/Released)