SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- Staff Sgt. Dawson Parker, 364th Training Squadron aircraft electrical and environmental instructor and native of Lakeland, Florida, has been in the Air Force for six years and is the Instructor of the Week at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas, for the week of April 11-17, 2017.
Most significant accomplishments:
“At my last duty station I had the opportunity to fly on multiple C-5M Super Galaxy missions; performing flying crew chief duties,” Parker said. “On one of my first missions we were transporting the president’s motorcade. The aircraft had a hydraulic pump failure during engine start. The other flying crew chief and I were able to fix the plane and get the president’s motorcade back to Washington DC. It was a pretty cool feeling to know that as two maintainers, we directly saved a presidential movement.”
“I also enjoy running quite a bit,” he said. “Last year I was able to complete a 5k in under 20 minutes. It was something that I had been trying to do all year.”
Airman’s story:
“I have a lot of members in my family who were in the military,” Parker said. “So I grew up hearing stories about their experiences in WWII, Vietnam, Operation IRAQI FREEDOM, and Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. So joining the military just seemed like the right thing to do.”
“At my first duty station, Dover Air Force Base, I worked on C-5A, C-5B and C-5M’s,” he said. “Working on C-5’s gave me a great opportunity to travel the world. I was able to travel all over Europe, the Middle East and even Japan. I went on a deployment to Afghanistan in 2014 and added C-17’s to my list of aircraft that I have worked on.”
“One of the biggest impacts the military has had on me, was serving on the dignified transfer teams at Dover Air Force Base,” Parker continued. “Being a part of so many of those dignified transfers gave me a whole new respect for all of us that serve. As an instructor I strive not only to make the best maintainers I can but also the best Airmen the Air Force has to offer.”
Supervisor’s comments:
“Sergeant Parker sets the tone for his Airmen to have an exciting and rewarding career in the United States Air Force,” said Tech. Sgt. Kyle Brislin, 364th TRS instructor supervisor. “His professionalism is only surpassed by his expertise in the aircraft electrical and environmental systems career field.”