Mendoza shares important aspects of his 20-year career Published March 2, 2026 71st Flying Training Wing Public Affairs VANCE AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- Master Sgt. Kevin Mendoza retired after a 20-year Air Force career during a ceremony held at 3 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 25, in the Crosswinds Club at Vance Air Force Base. His last assignment at Vance was as the RADAR Airfield Weather Systems section chief with the 71st Operations Support Squadron. Before his last day, Mendoza took time to reflect on his career with the U.S. Air Force. Why did you join the Air Force? I joined to support my new family at the time. I was recently married and my oldest son was just born. I wanted to provide safety and security to them both as well as pave the way for a successful future and career. I didn’t have a lot of guidance growing up and the Air Force provided that for me. What's your best memory of your first assignment? My best memories are my deployments to Iraq. My unit worked and trained hard together in preparation for our deployments. The camaraderie we developed in those challenging environments allowed us to build unwavering friendships. My favorite memories were coming home from each deployment, reuniting with my wife and sons. What are three reasons you would recommend the Air Force as a career? First is the training I received. I was looking for a challenging career that pushed my limits of hard work and technical expertise. I found that through my journey of being a radar technician. Second is the benefits I received for myself, and more importantly, for my family. The Air Force allowed me to develop personally and professionally through the education and training I received, all while having the comfort of my family being taken care of. Third is the purpose I found in the Air Force. I found purpose in what I did every day - serving my subordinates, peers and leadership. Each level had a purpose, which was to be there for them as much as I could. What advice would you give an airman or lieutenant just starting their Air Force career? Embrace every aspect of your day. Whether it be through academics, field training, briefings or doing PT, each part of your day serves a purpose that benefits those around you. You will be smarter and stronger as your career progresses. Soak it all in because, one day, you’ll turn the page to the next chapter. The days are long but the years will fly by. What is the biggest change you've witnessed in the Air Force? From a mission aspect, I would say the biggest change is the increase in the cyber domain mission sets. As technology grew throughout the years, I’ve seen technological warfare develop and change. An example is the rise of drones. Another is the development and stand up of the U.S. Space Force. The second important change I observed is how the Air Force cares for its people. Without the people the mission stops. I feel that the Air Force does a great job taking care of the men and women that ensure the mission is ongoing.