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Tinker graduates 12 from high-tech ed programs

  • Published
  • By Mike Ray
  • Tinker Public Affairs
TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  Twelve Tinker AFB employees were recognized recently at a reception held to praise them for graduating from high-tech education programs.

All of the graduates earned master's degrees in science or engineering from state universities through the Long-Term Training program or the Master of Science in Industrial and Systems Engineering program. Both programs are managed by the Air Force Sustainment Center's Engineering and Technical Management Directorate.

"We value people who invest in their education and in themselves," Col. Joseph Stupic, deputy director of the Engineering and Technical Management Directorate of the Air Force Sustainment Center, told the graduates, their family members and friends who attended the Feb. 6 ceremony.

LTT and MSISE are programs targeted to foster the attainment of technical and scientific competency within the S&E workforce. This training is designed to rapidly increase the competencies of the center's Scientist and Engineer technical and leadership abilities.

Advanced degrees are essential for scientists and engineers who hope to advance in the OC-ALC, records indicate. Among the scientists and engineers at Tinker, 26 percent of the GS-12s, 50 percent of the GS-13s, 86 percent of the GS-14s, and 92 percent of the GS-15s have post-graduate degrees.

LTT participants attend school full-time and have their tuition, fees and textbooks paid for up to three semesters through the AFSC/EN. The students draw their full salary while in school. MSISE participants attend school part-time outside of work and have their tuition paid through Air Force Personnel Center's Tuition Assistance program, and their fees and textbooks are paid for through AFSC/EN.

Program funds are managed by the Engineering Directorate, said Timothy Wilson of the Air Force Sustainment Center Engineering Workforce Development Branch.

Questions should be directed to Mr. Wilson, the manager of the LTT and MSISE programs. New admissions to both programs are temporarily on hold, awaiting funding determination.

The 12 employees honored included nine Long-Term Training graduates and three Master of Science in Industrial and Systems Engineering graduates.

All of the students earned their master's degrees in Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or Engineering and Technology Management. They attended either the University of Oklahoma or Oklahoma State University.

Graduates are:
Oklahoma City Air Logistics Complex:
· Bradley Coleman, 559th SMXS/MXDECD, MSETM, OSU
· Andrew Lee, 76th MXSS/MXDTAD, MSIE, OU
· Ching (Sina) McCue, 557th SMXS/MXDED, MSIE, OU
· Gary Mobley, 559th SMXS/MXDEBD, MSEE, OSU
· Jeremy Peters, 557th SMXS/MXDEC, MSETM, OSU
· Stephen Swanson, 558th SMXS/MXDEA, MSEE, OSU.
448th Supply Chain Management Wing:
· Dusty Spurlock, 424th SCMS/GUEA, MSME, OU.
Air Force Life Cycle Management Center:
· Mary Gravette, AFLCMC/WWZBAB, MSIE, OU
· Matthew Jones, AFLCMC/WWZBAA, MSAE, OU
· Jimmy Robertson, AFLCMC/WWZBAA, MSME, OU
· Ryan Rowten, AFLCMC/WWNLD, MSAE, OU.
72nd Air Base Wing:
· Christopher Mance, 72nd ABW/SCPL, MSIE, OU.