CCAF crowns latest Tinker graduates Published May 21, 2009 By Howdy Stout Tinker Public Affairs TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- The head of the University of Oklahoma's outreach program says he is impressed with the Community College of the Air Force and its graduates, saying they are the prototype of modern college-level students. Speaking at the Spring 2009 commencement ceremony at Tinker last week, Dr. James Pappas said the CCAF is the envy of civilian specialists in adult and continuing education. "For those of us in civilian education," Dr. Pappas said, "we are very impressed with the Community College of the Air Force...We are very impressed with the kind of graduates that come out of the Air Force." Founded in the 1970s, the CCAF offers 60-hour Associate of Applied Science degrees to serving Air Force personnel. The courses combine the Air Force's technical training programs with academic-oriented classes as part of the degree. Since 2007, the credit hours earned for the associate degree can be applied to higher degrees as well. More than 300,000 Airmen have graduated from the college, including 9,500 this spring and 252 at Tinker. An estimated 30 percent of all CCAF graduates are still serving, giving the Air Force the highest percentage among all the services of NCOs and enlisted personnel with associate degrees. Higher education is changing, Dr. Pappas said, with the traditional full-time student becoming a rarity. More students are pursuing their education while also working and raising families, a situation familiar to CCAF students. "You are quickly becoming the prototype of today's students," Dr. Pappas told the graduates. "Things have changed in higher education." Dr. Pappas said the turmoil in the workplace -- both civilian and military -- is likely to continue for the next several years even as the economy recovers and stabilizes. Changes in political direction may prompt a change in the type of military mission performed and the personnel needed to carry out those missions. "In the coming decade, we must expect constant restructuring in our organizations," he said. "We must all accept ambiguity and uncertainty." He urged the graduates to continue their education by saying that those who can quickly adapt to changing demands of the job market are more likely to succeed than those with limited or outdated skills. "We must consistently retool ourselves and become perpetual students," Dr. Pappas said, adding that "Your Community College of the Air Force degree is a good first step. Your opportunities will increase if you take the next step. This education should open more doors for you." CCAF GRADUATES Aerospace Ground Equipment Technology Staff Sgt. Constance Driver, 552nd MXS Senior Master Sgt. Emad Eleshy, 507th MXS Tech. Sgt. Vincent Floyd, 966th AACS Tech. Sgt. Brian Foster, 552nd MXS Tech. Sgt. Kelly Riedel, 552nd MOS Air And Space Operations Technology Senior Airman Eduardo Arellano, 966th AACS Senior Airman Anthony Bahr, 552nd TRS Staff Sgt. Rachel Bankemper, 966th AACS Staff Sgt. Sheena Burslie, 966th AACS Senior Airman Stefanie Deitrich, 960th AACS Staff Sgt. Katie Dorsey, 966th AACS Airman 1st Class Richard Edwards, 963rd AACS Senior Airman Adrian Flores, 960th AACS Senior Airman Chase Fredrickson, 960th AACS Senior Airman Kevin Funk, 964th AACS Senior Airman Matthew Ferguson, 966th AACS Senior Airman Alyson Gildner, 964th AACS Tech. Sgt. Darnell Gordon, 552nd OSS Staff Sgt. Christopher Heck, 960th AACS Staff Sgt. Gregory Howard, 966th AACS Staff Sgt. Shawn Hogue, 970th AACS Staff Sgt. Blake Jones, 965th AACS Staff Sgt. Christie Lewis, 966th AACS Master Sgt. Russell Nichols, 513th OSF Staff Sgt. Kyle Phan, 966th AACS Airman 1st Class Vincent Radish, 552nd TRS Master Sgt. Dustin Rayl, 966th AACS Senior Airman Erick ReynosoGonzalez, 964th AACS Master Sgt. Robert Russell, 552nd OSS Tech. Sgt. Christopher Salazar, 964th AACS Staff Sgt. Calvin San Nicolas, 964th AACS Staff Sgt. David Sellinger, 960th AACS Senior Master Sgt. Michael Striplin, 970th AACS Master Sgt. Vincent Stulginski, 507th ARW Staff Sgt. Sarah Sundeen, 963rd AACS Tech. Sgt. Troy Tull, 552nd TRS Master Sgt. Jordy Ward, 965th AACS Aircrew Safety Systems Technology Master Sgt. Sandra Endsley, 552nd OSS Master Sgt. Alvin Kuper, 465th ARS Airway Sciences Master Sgt. Theodore Curtis, 72nd AMS Tech. Sgt. Alexander Miles, 32nd CCS Allied Health Sciences Staff Sgt. Michael Cotter, 72nd MDG Staff Sgt. Steven Crowder, 72nd MG Staff Sgt. Latasha Holmes, 72nd MDOS Tech. Sgt. Vicki Moore, 72nd MOS Senior Airman Theresa Morgan, 965th AACS Senior Airman Ebony Prince Porter, 970th AACS Aviation Management Tech. Sgt. Scott Berchem, 964th AACS Aviation Maintenance Technology Master Sgt. Robert Abel, 965th AACS Senior Airman Jermarth Barbee, 552nd AMXS Staff Sgt. Suann Becton, 507th MXG Tech. Sgt. Jeffery Berry, 552nd ACW Staff Sgt. Ashley Block, 545th PMXS Senior Master Sgt. Gilbert Campbell, 507th MXG Master Sgt. Shaun Fountain, 513th MXS Staff Sgt. Jeremiah Gregory, 507th MXS Tech. Sgt. Samuel Helmick, 373rd TRS Senior Airman Chad Hileman, 552nd CS Staff Sgt. Shawn James, 552nd MC Tech. Sgt Ronnie Kindrix, 752nd OSS Master Sgt. Dale Kosa, 72nd FSS Master Sgt. Daniel Lucero, 56th MG Tech. Sgt. Amy Paskoff, 354th LRS Staff Sgt. Eddie Roden, 552nd MOS Staff Sgt. Scottie Sawall, 963rd AACS Tech. Sgt. Tammy Shaw, 373rd TRS Staff Sgt. Christopher Strader, 964th AACS Staff Sgt. Harold Strawderman, 513th MXS Tech. Sgt. Gerald Suddath, 137th MSF Master Sgt. Christopher Sweet, 564th ACMS Senior Master Sgt. Casey Wheeler, 507th AMXS Staff Sgt. Mark Wolf, 654th CLSS Senior Airman Scottie Myers, 552nd MOS Senior Airman Jonathan Sumerlin, 552nd AMS Staff Sgt. Loukas Jonson, 552nd MXS Aviation Operations Master Sgt. Robert Abel, 965th AACS Master Sgt. Todd Bowling, 552nd TRS Staff Sgt. James Buys, 966th AACS Staff Sgt. Troy Ellison, 966th AACS Staff Sgt. Christopher Foust, 963rd AACS Master Sgt.Justin Hopkins, 465th ARS Master Sgt. Alvin Kuper, 465th ARS Master Sgt. Erich Ross, 552nd OSS Staff Sgt. Jeremy Rudd, 960th AACS Staff Sgt. Scottie Sawall, 963rd AACS Staff Sgt. Christopher Strader, 964th AACS Tech. Sgt. Kelly Witt, 465th ARS Avionic Systems Technology Staff Sgt. Taiwan Evans, 552nd OSS Tech. Sgt. James Gambriell, 552nd MXS Staff Sgt. James Gordon, 552nd ACNS Staff Sgt. Preston Graham, 552nd MOS Staff Sgt. Randall Hailer 552nd MXG Staff Sgt. Michael Halbrook, 552nd MOS Staff Sgt. Christopher Hall, 552nd EMS Senior Airman Elizabeth Holder, 552nd MXS Staff Sgt. Jonathan Lentz, 552nd MOS Senior Airman Miguel Martinez, 552nd AMS Tech. Sgt. Robert Mcclaren, 513nd AMXS Tech. Sgt. Jason Merritt, 552nd MOS Tech. Sgt. Justin Moody, 552nd AMXS Staff Sgt. Scott Orta, 552nd TRS Master Sgt. James Parcell, 552nd MG Tech. Sgt. Michelle Peruzzi, 552nd MOS Staff Sgt. Christina Sanchez, 507th AMXS Staff Sgt. Calvin Smith, 513th AMXS Staff Sgt. esse Taylor, 552nd AMS Senior Airman Michael Vander Sys, 552nd MXS Bioenvironmental Engineering Technology Staff Sgt. Melissa Simpson, 72nd AMDS Senior Airman Jeffrey Sison, 72nd AMDS Biomedical Equipment Technology Tech. Sgt. Stephen St Hilaire, 72nd MDSS Communications Applications Technology Staff Sgt. Taiwan Evans, 552nd OSS Senior Airman Nathan Shiffler, 965th AACS Tech. Sgt. Toni Snyder, 507th ARW Staff Sgt. Cassanrda Waalkes, 552nd OSS Staff Sgt. George Warner, 965th AACS Staff Sgt. Jason Wellborn, 552nd OSS Computer Science Technology Master Sgt. Arron Ario, 552nd ACNS Senior Airman Jack Dervin, 552nd ACNS Staff Sgt. James Gordon, 552nd ACNS Airman 1st Class Travis Menard, 552nd ACNS Staff Sgt. George Montee, 552nd ACNS Staff Sgt. Jonathan Mustachia, 552nd ACNS Senior Airman Daniel Short, 552nd ACNS Contracts Management Master Sgt. Anthony Weiss, 72nd CONS Criminal Justice Master Sgt. Arron Ario, 552nd ACNS Staff Sgt. Manuel Gamboa, 72nd SFS Master Sgt. Terry Hutchens, 72nd SFS Master Sgt. Jesse Mccarty, 552nd OSS Tech. Sgt. Alexander Miles, 32nd CCS Senior Airman Jose Romero, 72nd SPS Lawrence Schomaker, 349th RS Master Sgt. Gregory Wooten, 552nd MXS Dental Assisting Staff Sgt. Che Hembree, 507th MDS Staff Sgt. Christina Lindstrom, 507th MDS Sharon Naff, 72nd DENTAL Diagnostic Staff Sgt. Patrick Casper, 72nd MDG Dietetics And Nutrition Master Sgt. Douglas Mccray, 72nd AMS Education & Training Management Tech. Sgt. Thomas Lord, 507th MOF Tech. Sgt. Christopher Rogersk 507th MDS Master Sgt. Jesse Mccarty, 552nd OSS Staff Sgt. Shanda Rader, 3rd CCSS Staff Sgt. Luis Rodriguez, 72th FSS Staff Sgt. Brentley Simpson, 373rd TRS Staff Sgt. Calvin Speed, 552nd MXS Electronic Systems Technology Staff Sgt. Tanya Mijangos, 32nd CCS Senior Airman Nicholas Amorim, 552nd MOS Staff Sgt. Jeremy Beck, 33rd CCS Senior Airman Portel Bellamy, 32nd CCS Master Sgt. Leonard Brown, 552nd MOS Staff Sgt. Chad Callahan, 32nd CCS Master Sgt. Christopher Casey, 31st CCS Tech. Sgt. David Deppen, AF FLT Staff Sgt. Bryan Dobbs, 137th MSF Tech. Sgt. Victoria Duncan, 33rd CCS Staff Sgt. Michael Elliott, 34th CCS Tech. Sgt. Tina Frame, 3rd CCSS Master Sgt. Christopher Gimenez, 33rd CCS Senior Airman Zacharias Goudie, 552nd MS Master Sgt. Ninh Ho, 964th AACS Airman 1st Class Joshua Johnson, 33rd CCS Staff Sgt. Mark Jurrens, 31st CCS Tech. Sgt. Ronnie Kindrix, 752nd OSS Staff Sgt. Byron Kluewer, 31st CCS Senior Airman Kwanza Lincoln, 552nd MOS Senior Airman William Martin, 373rd TRS Senior Airman Donald Mateyko, 34th CCS Staff Sgt. Michael Mccoy, 513th MXS Staff Sgt. Shannon Mcnelley, 35th CBCS Staff Sgt. Brian Mele, 31st CCS Tech. Sgt. Keith Minner, 552nd ACNS Staff Sgt. Peter Nichiporuk, AF FLT Staff Sgt. Adam Nichols, 33rd CCS Senior Airman Corinne Paulsen, 752nd CS Staff Sgt. James Poole, 34th CCS Staff Sgt. Mark Pridemore, 552nd MXS Tech. Sgt. Michael Rousey, 31st CCS Master Sgt.Frederick Thomas, 34th CCS Senior Airman Lee Tillman, 33rd CCS Senior Airman Ashley Vines, 552nd MXS Senior Airman Aron Lilley, 552nd MXS Financial Management Master Sgt. Jeffrey Jewell, 72nd CPTS Human Resource Management Staff Sgt. Tiffany Bradbury, 349th RS Tech. Sgt. Stephen Cagle, 349th RS Staff Sgt. Keli Conner, 654th CLSS Senior Master Sgt. Tony Dennis, 31st CCS Tech. Sgt. Ronald Fink, 72nd FSS Master Sgt. Eric Harrison, 349th RS Staff Sgt. Jasen Holguin, 349th RS Senior Airman Christopher Hughes, 3rd CCSS Staff Sgt. Nicholas Husted, 5th MRS Tech. Sgt. Stacey Isaac, 552nd ACW Master Sgt. Doris Kliethermes, 72nd FSS Tech. Sgt. Jennifer Knox, 72nd FSS Senior Airman Shatoria Lowe, 72nd FSS Master Sgt. Rosella Mccullough, 3rd CCSS Master Sgt. Michael Mujwid, 960th AACS Senior Airman Joseph Pennycock, 72nd FSS Master Sgt. Troy Rausch, 349th RS Staff Sgt. Onisa Rice, 72nd FSS Staff Sgt. Luis Rodriguez, 72nd FSS Staff Sgt. Michael Russell, 349th RS Chief Master Sgt. David Sample, 349th RS Tech. Sgt. Brad Snyder, 349th RS Tech. Sgt. David Whitley, 72nd FSS Information Management Tech. Sgt. Carla Barber, 507th OG Master Sgt. Cecil Ennett, 3rd CCSS Tech. Sgt. Cidellia Hagan, 552nd OSS Staff Sgt. Jasen Holguin, 349th RS Staff Sgt. Anna Mcclaren, 552nd MS Staff Sgt. Brandy Prude, 72nd FSS Staff Sgt. Erica Willis, 552nd ACW Information Systems Technology Tech. Sgt. Daniel Altman, 963rd AACS Staff Sgt. Rick Bachtell, 966th AACS Staff Sgt. Sheridan Bailey, 964th AACS Tech. Sgt. Mark Baughman, 552nd OSS Master Sgt. Todd Bowling, 552nd TRS Staff Sgt. Daniel Cervera, 35th CBCS Staff Sgt. Stanley Chathan, 964th AACS Staff Sgt. Brandon Chittum, 552nd TRS Staff Sgt. Robert Clark, 963rd AACS Senior Airman Ian Deutsch, 960th AACS Senior Airman Joshua Everett, 964th AACS Staff Sgt. Christopher Fischer, 966th AACS Tech. Sgt. Vincent Floyd, 966th AACS Staff Sgt. Tomasa Glica, 33rd CCS Staff Sgt. Karoline Gray, 964th AACS Senior Airman Christopher Harlan 965th AACS Staff Sgt. Brittany Harvey, 960th AACS Master Sgt. Dawn Housley, 965th AACS Senior Airman Daniel Jennings, 552nd ACW Master Sgt. Todd Lawson, 752nd CS Tech. Sgt. Christopher Lee, 752nd CS Senior Airman Felicia Lee, 552nd TRS Senior Airman Carolyn Leonforte, 963rd AACS Master Sgt. Deborah Linam, 33rd CCSS Staff Sgt. Darryl Lindgens, 964th AACS Master Sgt. Jesse Litman, 34th CCS Senior Airman Nicholas Manning, 963rd AACS Tech. Sgt. Shannon Mccann, 552nd AMS Staff Sgt. Zachary Mccaskill, 34th CCS Staff Sgt. Jessica Mccowan, 507th ARW Staff Sgt. Jason Mcdowell, 31st CCS Master Sgt. Michael Mcwater, 507th CF Senior Airman Clayton Moore, 965th AACS Staff Sgt. Jeremy Murray, 552nd OSS Staff Sgt. Aaron Nelson, 960th AACS Senior Airman Ashley Newell, 964th AACS Tech. Sgt. Patrick Patterson, 552nd OSS Senior Airman Matthew Podgornik, 964th AACS Airman 1st Class Kassandra Rider, 963rd AACS Staff Sgt. Charles Riney, 964th AACS Staff Sgt. Jeremy Runyon, 965th AACS Tech. Sgt. Shalanda Sivils, 32nd CCS Senior Airman Neal Smock, 34th CCS Staff Sgt. Paulino Sotomayor Colon, 963rd AACS Staff Sgt. Erica Spencer, 964th AACS Staff Sgt. Lawrence Stubbs, 960th AACS Tech. Sgt. David Whitley, 72nd FSS Senior Airman Christopher Wilson, 963rd AACS Staff Sgt. Doug Yarnell, 965th AACS Instructor Of Technology And Military Science Staff Sgt. Brian Baldwin, 552nd OSS Tech. Sgt. Melissa Baker, 552nd TRS Master Sgt. Everett Baumel, 552nd OG Staff Sgt. Matthew Chapman, 966th AACS Deborah Charlton, 552nd MOS Staff Sgt. Kaleb Christofferson, 966th AACS Tech. Sgt. Robert Dearth, 966th AACS Staff Sgt. Troy Ellison, 966th AACS Tech. Sgt. Vincent Floyd, 966th AACS Senior Airman Jason Henry, 966th AACS Staff Sgt. Brandon Hess, 966th AACS Staff Sgt. Gregory Howard, 965th AACS Staff Sgt. Amy Ewaniuk, 552nd TRS Master Sgt. Timothy Jones, 966th AACS Tech. Sgt. Brent Karaffa, 963rd AACS Staff Sgt. Rex Moseley, 373rd TRS Staff Sgt. Brooke Neumann, 966th AACS Staff Sgt. Casey Patterson, 72nd ABW Tech. Sgt. Joseph Reno, 966th AACS Master Sgt. Michael Skinner, 966th AACS Staff Sgt. Orian Steen, 966th AACS Staff Sgt. Ericson Wolford, 373rd TRS Logistics Master Sgt. Malia Arnold, 552nd MOS Tech. Sgt. James Bartley, 72nd CONS Senior Airman Jovan Boisselle, 552nd MOS Tech. Sgt. Brandy Franco, 507th LRS Tech. Sgt. Clarissa Lund, 513th MXS Tech. Sgt. Amy Paskoff, 354th LRS Master Sgt. Rachel Polite, 552nd MOS Master Sgt. Jane Ward, 513th OSF Master Sgt. Anthony Weiss, 72nd CONS Mechanical And Electrical Technology Master Sgt. Deric Nixon, 507th CES Staff Sgt. Clarence White, 35th CBCS Tech. Sgt. Darnell Gordon, 552nd TRS Senior Airman Emanuel Flores, 32nd CCS Senior Airman Anthony Ramirez, 32nd CCS Tech. Sgt. Stephen St Hilaire, 72nd MDSS Staff Sgt. Jacob Guillory, 31st CCS Mental Health Sciences Master Sgt. Sheila Dejournett, 72nd MDG Munitions Systems Technology Staff Sgt. Terry Allen, 964th AACS Opthalmic Technician Staff Sgt. Sharona Cortez Sablan, 72nd AMDS Pharmacy Technology Senior Airman Shynita Thomas, 72nd MDSS Public Health Technology Staff Sgt. Stephanie Branscomb, 72nd MDS Staff Sgt. Ahmad Kennedy, 72nd AMDS Senior Airman Katie Romo, 72nd AMDS Staff Sgt. Brentley Simpson, 373rd TRS Staff Sgt. Misty Smith, 2nd AMDS Restaurant, Hotel & Fitness Management Staff Sgt. Nicole Brewer, 72nd FSS Staff Sgt. Kenneth Brister, 513th MXS Master Sgt. Frederick Thomas, 34th CCS Safety Tech. Sgt. Todd Waldrop, 552nd ACW Social Services Staff Sgt. Jasmine Barnes, 72nd ABW Transportation Senior Airman Diana Barrett, 72nd FSS Staff Sgt. Claudia Borlabibor Quaye, 507th LRS Tech. Sgt. Patricia Graham, 72nd APS Staff Sgt. Jason Russell, 72nd APS Staff Sgt. Zachary Walker, 72nd APS Vehicle Maintenance Staff Sgt. Kay Terrapin 507th LRS Weather Technology Tech. Sgt. Samuel Pugh 72nd OSS