SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --
James Moore, 982nd Maintenance Squadron engineering technician and
native of Dallas, Texas, has been in the Air Force for 31 years and is the
commander’s Wingman of Choice at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas, for the week
of May 31 – June 6, 2016.
Most significant accomplishments:
“I graduated from Texas State Technical College in Waco,
Texas in May, 1985 with the distinction of being the first deaf student to be
awarded an associate degree in mechanical engineering technology,” Moore said. “In
addition, I was awarded the Air Force Chief of Staff Team Excellence Award in
September 2008 and earned recognition as the 2015 Air Education and Training
Command, Outstanding DOD (Department of Defense) Employee and Service Member
with a Disability Award Winner.”
“My Dad and Mom are my greatest inspiration,” Moore
continued. “They were very good role models … growing up with them, I learned
the meaning of love through what they gave and showed us as a family. I
remember my Dad telling me that when I was born, after a few months they found
out I was deaf. He said to me, ‘That did not matter.’ He said he, ‘would always
love me and to not give up on my future.’
“I really had great pleasure growing up with them, and
wherever we went,” he said. “Whether it was camping, going to the farm, fishing
or traveling, it was an adventure. They taught me many things about machines,
mechanics and building things, and gave me the encouragement to go to college
and make a career as a mechanical engineering technician. They were there for
me, supporting and motivating me over those three years believed in me, and
they knew that I could do it. I’m so grateful and happy for what my parents
gave me for my future and my career.”
Commander’s comments:
Moore was chosen to be the commander’s Wingman of Choice
because of his ability to inspire people with his positive attitude and doesn’t
let his hearing disability hold him back. He is considered one of the
organization’s top performers, and is personally responsible for designing many
of the wing’s most challenging trainer projects. His efforts influenced the
design, fabrication, and the fielding of hundreds of world-class training
devices; making positive and long-lasting impacts on the thousands of DOD
trainees per year.
Major Denny Shofner, 982nd MXS commander, said, “It’s pretty
self-explanatory why Mr. Moore is my Wingman of Choice. Mr. Moore is not a
future leader, he is a leader.”