Avionics instructor is commander's 'Wingman of Choice'

  • Published
  • 82nd Training Wing Public Affairs
SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  Staff Sgt. Cody Pratt, a 372nd Training Squadron, Detachment 8 avionics instructor from Mineral Wells, W. Va., has been selected as the commander's wingman of choice. He has spent seven years in the Air Force and six at Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D. He is inspired by crafts, inventors and the task of building and programming things.


Family: Wife - Shawna Pratt, Children - Mackenzi and Cali

Education (Include name of school and degree in what area):

Community College of the Air Force associates in avionic systems technology

Community College of the Air Force associates, instructor of technology and military science


Future goals: Complete my bachelors in computer programming and make senior master sergeant by 20 years.

Greatest accomplishment: Being recognized as a subject matter expert and being asked to be an instructor as a senior airman without a line number for staff sergeant.

Hobbies, off-duty interests: Fishing, hiking, woodworking, computer programming, snowboarding, skateboarding.

Why is this person the Wingman of Choice?

Pratt has contributed countless hours to the implementation of the Field Training Scheduling System. Using his vast computer programming skills, he digitized unit requests, which enabled over 50 schedulers to view classes and vacancies worldwide, streamlining mobile training requests for over 1,600 Airmen per year. Staff Sgt. Pratt was also named the Inspector General "Distinguished Performer" during Detachment 8's Air Education and Training Command's Compliance Inspection in 2012 and was selected as the detachment level non-commissioned officer of the first and third quarter in 2013.

Commander's name and comments:

According to the 372nd Training Squadron, Detachment 8 commander, "Staff Sgt. Cody Pratt took on a challenge to fundamentally change the way course scheduling is done throughout all 48 Field Training Detachments in the 982nd Training Groups. While geographically separated at Ellsworth AFB, he has programmed a system that ensured seat vacancy visibility for all formal training courses at all Detachments, driving up seat utilization. In addition he has taken the Detachment Training Management System and built it into a robust management program that any Detachment can use. Staff Sgt. Pratt epitomizes the commander's wingman of choice as someone you turn to that gets the job done. Given an idea on how to make our business better, he delivers amazing results."