Airmen complete CCAF degrees

  • Published
  • By Todd Maki
  • 66th Air Base Group Public Affairs

HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. – Base officials held a Community College of the Air Force commencement ceremony at the Minuteman Commons here June 21.

Officials held the event to recognize Airmen who completed CCAF degrees during the fall 2021 and spring 2022 semesters.

While a total of 43 Airmen from the installation and geographically separated units earned CCAF degrees, only nine were able to attend the in-person ceremony.

Chief Master Sgt. William Hebb, installation command chief, delivered the commencement address.

“The principles and knowledge that I gained during my educational journey gave me a foundation to build on as I progressed in my career,” he said. “I challenge you to continue your education.”

Hebb and Jamie Thurber, representing the Lexington-Concord Chapter of AFCEA, presented a $2,000 scholarship to Staff Sgt. Emily Williams, 66th Security Forces Squadron unit training manager, and a $1,000 scholarship was presented to Tech. Sgt. Roger Lanoie, 319th Recruiting Squadron personnel section NCO in charge. Airmen receive the scholarships to help with continuing their education.

For many of the graduates, a CCAF degree, equivalent to an associate’s degree, is the first step toward a bachelor's degree.

“I'm working on my bachelor's right now in social work,” said Williams. “I want to be a social worker after the Air Force.”

During closing remarks, Col. Katrina Stephens, installation commander, discussed the significance of completing a CCAF degree.

“Learning is a lifelong pursuit and the hardest part is taking the first step,” she told the graduates. “The second step is to invest in yourself, set your course, charter your path and stay true.’’

The CCAF is a federally-chartered, degree-granting institution that serves the U.S. Air and Space Force’s enlisted total force. It’s partnered with more than 112 affiliated Air Force schools and 300 education service offices located worldwide. The college annually awards over 22,000 associate in applied science degrees from 71 different programs.

Air Force officials established the CCAF in 1972 as a way for enlisted Airmen to gain recognition for Air Force training.

Congratulations to the following CCAF graduates.

66th Air Base Group

Tech. Sgt. Donice Alford, Human Resource Management

Senior Airman William Ball, Bioenvironmental Engineering Technology 

Staff Sgt. Jeffery Duerson, Pharmacy Technology

Senior Airman Joshua Lightning, Dental Assisting

Tech. Sgt. Derek Medlenka, Practical Nursing Technology

Staff Sgt. Cashae Hinton, Criminal Justice

Senior Airman Kaitlyn James, Criminal Justice

Senior Airman Ceara Larson, Criminal Justice

Staff Sgt. Eric Mikhlin, Criminal Justice

Senior Airman Brittany Misher, Financial Management  

Staff Sgt. Christa Nesbitt, Criminal Justice

Staff Sgt. Matthew Ramon, Criminal Justice

Tech. Sgt. Raymond Rocheleau, Criminal Justice

Staff Sgt. Robert Starr, Health Care Management

Senior Airman Adrianna Williams, Criminal Justice

Staff Sgt. Emily Williams, Education and Training Management

319th Recruiting Squadron

Tech. Sgt. David Dejesus, Human Resource Management

Staff Sgt. Tori Glover, Meteorology

Tech. Sgt. Roger Lanoie, Human Resource Management

Tech. Sgt. Kenneth Quinn, Criminal Justice

Staff Sgt. Patric Moore, Intelligence Studies and Technology

AFLCMC Det. 7

Tech. Sgt. Kaelah Swenson, Business Administration

Joint Personal Property Shipping Office

Staff Sgt. Anthony Nocella, Transportation

Geographically Separated Units

Tech. Sgt. Kenneth Arnold, Human Resource Management

Tech. Sgt. Michael Bahr, Mechanical and Electronic Technology

Staff Sgt.  Nicholas Borden, Business Administration            

Staff Sgt. Jonothon Cawley, Mechanical and Electrical Technology               

Staff Sgt. Martin Cepeda, Aircraft Structural Maintenance Technology 

Tech. Sgt. Anthony Feroleto, Human Resource Management

Staff Sgt. Grant Ferrell, Aviation Maintenance Technology                             

Tech. Sgt. Charles Gresham, Human Resource Management

Staff Sgt. Haylee Guay, Criminal Justice             

Staff Sgt. Garett Kihlthau, Criminal Justice

Staff Sgt. Dean Mansfield, Human Resource Management

Master Sgt. Tyler Marking, Human Resource Management                        

Staff Sgt.  Ryan Moynihan, Logistics         

Tech. Sgt. Christina Renfrew, Human Resource Management

Tech. Sgt. Shane Robinson, Human Resource Management

Tech. Sgt. Brandon Rowans, Business Administration             

Staff Sgt. Brock Sandridge, Transportation

Tech. Sgt. Robert Schatz, Aircraft Structural Maintenance Technology               

Staff Sgt. Robert Talamantez, Aircraft Structural Maintenance Technology

Tech. Sgt. Shawn Warren, Transportation