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8 graduate from OC-ALC/EN’s Long-Term Training program

  • Published
  • By Mike W. Ray
  • Tinker Public Affairs
TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  Eight employees in the Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center were recognized recently at a reception honoring their graduation from a high-tech educational program.

The graduates all earned master's degrees in science or engineering through the Long-Term Training program sponsored by the Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center Engineering Directorate.

"To accomplish the center's mission, we have to make sure we have the right number of motivated and trained personnel," said David K. Robertson, director of Engineering in the OC-ALC. LTT is "one of the tools we use to recruit, develop and retain personnel," he told the graduates, their family members and their supervisors during the Feb. 3 ceremony.

LTT "plays a crucial role in preparing our professionals to handle the challenges we face every day," and provides its participants "an exceptional growth opportunity," Mr. Robertson added.

Advanced degrees are essential for scientists and engineers who hope to advance in the OC-ALC, Mr. Robertson hinted. Ninety percent of the GS-14 scientists and engineers in the OC-ALC, and all of the GS-15 S&Es in the center, have post-graduate degrees, he said.

LTT is a program "targeted to foster the attainment of technical and scientific competency within the S&E workforce," according to OC-ALC Instruction 36-603, Engineering Long-Term Training Program. "This training is designed to rapidly increase the competencies of the center's Scientist and Engineer technical and leadership abilities."

Enrollees have their tuition, fees and textbooks paid for up to three semesters while they study for a Master of Science degree at the University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma State University or other local public, accredited university. The students attend school full-time while continuing to draw their full salary during those three semesters.

Program funds are managed by the Engineering Directorate, said Faith Mailu of Engineering Workforce Development in the OC-ALC.

April 30 is the nomination deadline for OC-ALC employees who want to enroll in the 2012-13 LTT cycle, said Beth Murray, Tinker's LTT Program Manager. Selection will be competitive. A nominee must be a GS-09 or higher and have at least one year of continuous service at Tinker AFB. Students must be within three semesters (fall/spring/summer or fall/spring/fall) of completing their master's degree program.

For details, applicants should go to the Tinker S&E Community of Practice Web site: https://afkm.wpafb.af.mil/TinkerSE.

LTT graduates

The eight Tinker Air Force Base employees who were recognized recently for graduating from the Long-Term Training program sponsored by the Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center are:

76th Maintenance Wing: Paul Jaramillo, 559th Software Maintenance Squadron, and Chad Riopelle, 556th Software Maintenance Squadron.

448th Supply Chain Management Wing: Christopher Carrero, 422nd Supply Chain Management Squadron, and Matthew DiMaggio, 848th Supply Chain Management Group.

Aerospace Sustainment Directorate: Shannon Custard, OC-ALC/GKGB; Brian Grissom, OC-ALC/GKABAB; and William Parker, OC-ALC/GKAAB.

498th Missile Sustainment Division: Jason Isley, 498th NSW/NWBAN.