2012 CCAF graduates raise the bar Published July 2, 2012 By Staff Sgt. Nicholas Rau 460th Space Wing Public Affairs 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