EOD instructor is commander's "Wingman of Choice" Published June 18, 2013 82nd Training Wing Public Affairs SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- Staff Sgt. Cooper Gibson is the commander's "Wingman of Choice" for the week of June 10-14. The 82nd Training Wing "Commander's Wingman of Choice" award program is the commander's way of acknowledging Airmen for a job well done and to recognize Airmen who exemplify the spirit of the program. Criteria for consideration include outstanding duty performance, community involvement and exemplary leadership. Go by name: Cooper Squadron/Duty phone: 366 TRS Duty title: EOD Instructor Hometown: Houston, Texas Years of service and time on Sheppard: 7 years TIS / 2 years TOS Family: Wife (Megan) 2 children (Cason-4, Hayley-1) Education (Include name of school and degree in what area): 2 CCAF degrees (EOD and ITMS) What inspires you: Family and society's drive to continually improve. Future goals: Continue to work towards Bachelor's degree in mechanical/electrical engineering, mastering carpentry; pursue becoming a gunsmith; masonry and finish writing my science fiction book. Greatest accomplishment: Family, graduating EOD School and surviving deployments Hobbies, off-duty interests: carpentry, gunsmith, masonry, writing, gaming and sports Why is this person the Wingman of Choice? Since his arrival, he has established a flight HAZMAT program from scratch ensuring compliance with federal regulations as well as created a detailed tracking system accounting for over 120 equipment items valued at more than $3 million dollars. In addition, Staff Sgt. Gibson has developed and implemented numerous tracking programs at the direction of HQ AF, collecting vital statistics on over 600 EOD students ensuring optimal recruiting of the best qualified EOD candidates. Furthermore, he has delivered over 800 hours of classroom instruction and practical evaluations which have helped in reducing the joint EOD school attrition rate by over 16%. He has volunteered as the flight's team leader for the meals-on-wheels program, assisting 20 local families in need as well as stepped up to participate in joint training with Wichita Falls Police Department SWAT unit. During the joint training, he highlighted the capabilities of EOD robotic platforms currently in use and facilitated crosstalk on ways to utilize these assets in local SWAT operations. He has accomplished all of this while still striving for his own academic excellence; finishing 12 semester hours of college credit and subsequently being awarded two CCAF degrees, maintaining a 3.45 GPA. Commander's name and comments: Lt. Col. James R. Beam Jr. Staff Sgt. Gibson is a consummate professional who doesn't seek attention or trophies. He has tediously worked to stand up the EOD preliminary course from the ground up, working through the creation of initial course document and course validation, to the highly regarded program it is today. His willingness to put service before self has been paid forward, helping reinforce real world deployment experiences during 366 Warrior weekends, allowing students to gain a greater understanding of what is expected of them after technical training graduation and upon assignment to contingency operations. Additionally, during his short tenure he has been a positive voice for Sheppard, eloquently briefing leadership of all levels to include General Rice, AETC/CC and three CMSAFs on our tremendous training mission.