MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. -- In a post on Facebook on 4 December, Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force JoAnne S. Bass acknowledged Language Enabled Airman Program Scholar MSgt Andre De Lira. CMSAF Bass wrote:
“Happy Friday, folks — meet MSgt Andre De Lira, the wing avionics manager assigned to the 23 MXG at Moody AFB.
I met MSgt De Lira this week during a zoom call I had with the SEL of the Brazilian Air Force. He was our translator...and did a fantastic job.
What I learned about MSgt De Lira was that he joined the Air Force, came in as a dental assistant, then became a recruiter - and when the Air Force needed folks to fill a critically-undermanned career field, he retrained as an F-16 avionics systems technician.
In 2015, he was accepted into the AF Language Enabled Airman Program (LEAP), where he employs his language skills in support of many great missions and opportunities. My discussions with the Brazilian SEL was one of them.
MSgt De Lira is a great example of the Airmen We Need in our Air Force. Dedicated. Competent. Disciplined. Multi-capable. Committed.
I would work with him any day of the week.
Keep doing great things, Andre! It’s Airmen like you that I’m honored to serve.