HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. – Base officials held a Community College of the Air Force commencement ceremony at the Minuteman Commons here June 21.
Officials held the event to recognize Airmen who completed CCAF degrees during the fall 2021 and spring 2022 semesters.
While a total of 43 Airmen from the installation and geographically separated units earned CCAF degrees, only nine were able to attend the in-person ceremony.
Chief Master Sgt. William Hebb, installation command chief, delivered the commencement address.
“The principles and knowledge that I gained during my educational journey gave me a foundation to build on as I progressed in my career,” he said. “I challenge you to continue your education.”
Hebb and Jamie Thurber, representing the Lexington-Concord Chapter of AFCEA, presented a $2,000 scholarship to Staff Sgt. Emily Williams, 66th Security Forces Squadron unit training manager, and a $1,000 scholarship was presented to Tech. Sgt. Roger Lanoie, 319th Recruiting Squadron personnel section NCO in charge. Airmen receive the scholarships to help with continuing their education.
For many of the graduates, a CCAF degree, equivalent to an associate’s degree, is the first step toward a bachelor's degree.
“I'm working on my bachelor's right now in social work,” said Williams. “I want to be a social worker after the Air Force.”
During closing remarks, Col. Katrina Stephens, installation commander, discussed the significance of completing a CCAF degree.
“Learning is a lifelong pursuit and the hardest part is taking the first step,” she told the graduates. “The second step is to invest in yourself, set your course, charter your path and stay true.’’
The CCAF is a federally-chartered, degree-granting institution that serves the U.S. Air and Space Force’s enlisted total force. It’s partnered with more than 112 affiliated Air Force schools and 300 education service offices located worldwide. The college annually awards over 22,000 associate in applied science degrees from 71 different programs.
Air Force officials established the CCAF in 1972 as a way for enlisted Airmen to gain recognition for Air Force training.
Congratulations to the following CCAF graduates.
66th Air Base Group
Tech. Sgt. Donice Alford, Human Resource Management
Senior Airman William Ball, Bioenvironmental Engineering Technology
Staff Sgt. Jeffery Duerson, Pharmacy Technology
Senior Airman Joshua Lightning, Dental Assisting
Tech. Sgt. Derek Medlenka, Practical Nursing Technology
Staff Sgt. Cashae Hinton, Criminal Justice
Senior Airman Kaitlyn James, Criminal Justice
Senior Airman Ceara Larson, Criminal Justice
Staff Sgt. Eric Mikhlin, Criminal Justice
Senior Airman Brittany Misher, Financial Management
Staff Sgt. Christa Nesbitt, Criminal Justice
Staff Sgt. Matthew Ramon, Criminal Justice
Tech. Sgt. Raymond Rocheleau, Criminal Justice
Staff Sgt. Robert Starr, Health Care Management
Senior Airman Adrianna Williams, Criminal Justice
Staff Sgt. Emily Williams, Education and Training Management
319th Recruiting Squadron
Tech. Sgt. David Dejesus, Human Resource Management
Staff Sgt. Tori Glover, Meteorology
Tech. Sgt. Roger Lanoie, Human Resource Management
Tech. Sgt. Kenneth Quinn, Criminal Justice
Staff Sgt. Patric Moore, Intelligence Studies and Technology
AFLCMC Det. 7
Tech. Sgt. Kaelah Swenson, Business Administration
Joint Personal Property Shipping Office
Staff Sgt. Anthony Nocella, Transportation
Geographically Separated Units
Tech. Sgt. Kenneth Arnold, Human Resource Management
Tech. Sgt. Michael Bahr, Mechanical and Electronic Technology
Staff Sgt. Nicholas Borden, Business Administration
Staff Sgt. Jonothon Cawley, Mechanical and Electrical Technology
Staff Sgt. Martin Cepeda, Aircraft Structural Maintenance Technology
Tech. Sgt. Anthony Feroleto, Human Resource Management
Staff Sgt. Grant Ferrell, Aviation Maintenance Technology
Tech. Sgt. Charles Gresham, Human Resource Management
Staff Sgt. Haylee Guay, Criminal Justice
Staff Sgt. Garett Kihlthau, Criminal Justice
Staff Sgt. Dean Mansfield, Human Resource Management
Master Sgt. Tyler Marking, Human Resource Management
Staff Sgt. Ryan Moynihan, Logistics
Tech. Sgt. Christina Renfrew, Human Resource Management
Tech. Sgt. Shane Robinson, Human Resource Management
Tech. Sgt. Brandon Rowans, Business Administration
Staff Sgt. Brock Sandridge, Transportation
Tech. Sgt. Robert Schatz, Aircraft Structural Maintenance Technology
Staff Sgt. Robert Talamantez, Aircraft Structural Maintenance Technology
Tech. Sgt. Shawn Warren, Transportation