SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --
SrA Christian Williams,
80th Operations Support Squadron air traffic control journeyman and
native of Nelson, Nebraska, has been in
the Air Force for four years and is the Support Airman of the week at
Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas, for the week of May 17-23, 2016.
Most significant accomplishments:
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Awarded as the 80th Flying Training Wing Airman
of the Year for 2015.
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Awarded Wing Airman of the Quarter three times.
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Received Community College of the Air Force
degree in Air Traffic Control Operations and Management.
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Founding member and President of the 80th FTW
Airman’s council.
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Former President of the 80th OSS booster club.
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Fully upgraded on all facility positions in
radar approach control in 75 percent of the allotted time.
Airman’s story:
“Coming from a small town of about 350 in Nebraska, I wasn’t
used to such diversity like the Air Force encompasses,” said Williams. “I
enlisted right out of high school and waited until I received air traffic control
as one of my top job choices. I am endlessly grateful to the Air Force for
providing me the opportunity of a free education and a unique skillset that is
hard to get anywhere else.”
“Also, I landed an exclusive opportunity to explore my
creative side as a novice model through a talent agency in Dallas, Texas,” he
continued. “So far, modeling has been a favorable venture for me and I am very
pleased with my output thus far. My family and friends have supported and rooted
for me every step of the way and I could not be more thankful to all of them.”
“Currently, I am in the process of meeting requirements to
enter the Reserve Officer Training Corps at the University of Stanford by next
year and eventually commission as a Second Lieutenant with a pilot slot,” he
said. “The influential leaders that I have encountered since joining the Air
Force have been instrumental in the development of character and the
advancement of my career and I genuinely owe them a sincere ‘thank you.’”
Supervisor
Comments:
“Senior Airman
Williams constantly seeks out ways to build and improve the air traffic control
training program, which controls 200,000 flights annually for the 80th Flight
Training Wing,” said Tech. Sgt. Cory Slane, air traffic control senior
watch supervisor. “He has helped revamp
the air traffic control simulation program, adding an additional 75 new
scenarios. This aides the training process by creating realistic instances that
the Air Traffic controllers could be faced with, such as near mid-air
collisions, weather vectoring concerns, and high density traffic areas.”
“Additionally, Senior
Airman Williams created a new weekly training evaluation document,
incorporating numerous changes and updated a 2-year-old product to create a
more streamlined administrative aspect of the overall ATC training program,”
Slane said. “All of these accomplishments have contributed to over 50 air
traffic control position ratings and at least six 5-level upgrades, the
majority of which go on to operational bases to support myriad multinational
efforts.”