EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- The 412th Force Support Squadron’s Airman Leadership School ended 2016 on a high note by graduating 44 senior airmen and one civilian Dec. 8. According to 412th Test Wing leadership and ALS staff, the newest crop of graduates is one for the record books.
“Class 17A was the largest class in Edwards history,” said Master Sgt. Daniel Magas, ALS commandant. “The increase in class size is driven by Air Force Total Force initiatives aimed at a greater inclusion of Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard in-residence Enlisted Professional Military Education experiences. This allows our brothers and sisters in arms the opportunity to otherwise get a full ALS experience rather than an online version of the course.”
The Air Force Total Force program also allows civilian Airmen to attend ALS. In February, two civilians from Edwards were the first to graduate from ALS in Air Force Materiel Command.
Air Guard and Air Reserve Airmen are nominated through their respective commands and assigned ALS slots where available, including at Edwards, which Magas said is very accommodating to higher-headquarter needs.
“I personally feel it's the best thing we could have ever done within the EPME community. Regardless of our Air Force component, we serve as Airmen and should be trained in the same regard,” Magas said.
ALS is a five-week United States Air Force program designed to develop Airmen into effective front-line supervisors. It is the first professional military education that enlisted Air Force members encounter. ALS focuses on building leadership and team development abilities as well as effective communication.
Wing leadership says they would also like to expand ALS in the future by inviting sister service and foreign military members on base to attend.
ALS Class 17A
Sean Smith, 412th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron (Distinguished Graduate)
George Forder, 412th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron
Jeffrey Warner, 412th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron
Jerome Hughes, 412th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron
Sirshawn Kirby, 412th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron
Ronald E. Mansfield III, 412th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron
Timothy Konrad, 412th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron
Aaron Jaime, 412th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron
Shelby Throckmorton, 412th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron
Matthew Watters, 412th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron (Academic Achiever)
Mitchell J.Mosier, 412th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron
Keenan Gibbsaustin, 412th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron
Eric Penokie, 412th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron
Austin Leachman, 412th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron
Jesse Chavez, 412th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron (Distinguished Graduate)
Brandon Gordon, 412th Comptroller Squadron
Ryan Chong, 412th Communications Squadron
Michael Kaszuba, 412th Maintenance Group
Kenroy Steele, 412th Maintenance Squadron
Douglas Gore, 412th Maintenance Squadron (Commandant’s Award)
Kevin Hitchcock, 412th Security Forces Squadron
Cristina Little, 412th Security Forces Squadron
Savanna Hignojoz, 412th Security Forces Squadron
Anthony Cavallo, 412th Security Forces Squadron
Keneshia Tinniehill, 412th Security Forces Squadron
Jonathan Slusser, 412th Security Forces Squadron
Alexis Connors, 412th Medical Operations Squadron
Austin Duncan, 412th Medical Operations Squadron
Christopher Ramos (civilian), 812th Civil Engineer Squadron
Victoria Corley, 412th Test Wing
Steven Barnes, 53rd Test and Evaluation Group (Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada)
Virginia Guitierrez, 53rd Test and Evaluation Group
Aaron Gross, 31st Test and Evaluation Squadron
Donald Badgett, 31st Test and Evaluation Squadron (John L. Levitow Award Winner)
Terrell Harris, 912th Air Refueling Squadron (March Air Reserve Base, California)
Kyle Hauck, 912th Air Refueling Squadron (March Air Reserve Base, California)
Rachel Kane, 446th Civil Engineer Squadron (Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington)
Ryhan Gage, 452nd Force Support Squadron (March Air Reserve Base, California)
Andrea Bower, 56th Aerial Port Squadron (March Air Reserve Base, California)
Thomas Rocky, 452nd Maintenance Squadron
Thomas Collins, 446th Civil Engineer Squadron
Evan Williams, 146th Logistics Readiness Squadron (California Air National Guard, Oxnard, California)
John Raymer, 150th Civil Engineer Flight
Andres Garciaacosta, 144th Civil Engineer Squadron
Amethyst Jefferson, 144th Civil Engineer Squadron