DUKE FIELD, Fla. -- The Community College of the Air Force granted Associate of Applied Science degree diplomas to 17 graduates from the 919th Special Operations Wing recently.
"This is an exceptionally impressive accomplish under normal circumstances but even more so to have excelled in such challenging academic endeavors in the midst of a pandemic," said Col. Jason Grandy, 919 SOW commander. "Each of these individuals overcame a number of obstacles to complete the degree requirements and deserve to be recognized for this important milestone. I couldn't be prouder of them."
The achievement is indicative of the important role continuing education plays in an Airman's professional development.
"I encourage current and future CCAF graduates to continue their journey of learning and applying the knowledge gained to enhance not only their lives, but also the lives of others," said Chief Master Sergeant Peter Webb, 919th SOW command chief. "What makes us the envy of every country is the professionalism of our enlisted force. We should always continue to grow and learn for that is what makes us our enlisted corps the greatest Air Force on the face of the planet."
The 17 recent CCAF graduates are as follows:
Senior Master Sergeant
Rios, Edward
Master Sergeant
Davis, Derrick
Mallory, Dustin
Terrell, Steven
Technical Sergeant
Edwards Miller, Shawna
Griffin, Tony
Hartzell, Jesi
Hume, Andrew
McDaniel, Lance
Smith, Andrew
Wilder, Davor
Staff Sergeant
Hunt, Tamekia
Jelks, Sheliah
Park, Christopher
Rich, Travis
Thunstrom, Brooke
Walker, Cora
The CCAF partners with over 112 affiliated Air and Space Force schools, 82 Education Service offices located worldwide and more than 1,500 civilian academic institutions to serve more than 305,000 active duty, National Guard and Reserve enlisted personnel.
It is the world's largest community college system which awards over 22,000 associate degrees in applied science annually.