Combat Airlifter of the Week: Senior Airman Austin Creel

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Isabell A. Nutt
  • 19th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

Name and Rank: Senior Airman Austin Creel

Unit: 19th Operations Support Squadron

Official Duty title: Weather Apprentice

Hometown: Heyburn, Idaho

Time in service: 4 years

Time at Little Rock: 3 years

Goals: Continue learning more about programming and earn IT certifications

Hobbies: Gaming with friends and reading

Creel serves as a duty forecaster, conducting airfield, mission, and staff weather support. He is responsible for the oversight and protection of 13,800 personnel and $9.7 billion in assets across Little Rock AFB and four drop zones throughout Arkansas.

He displayed his passion for weather and STEM when he volunteered his time to run a weather booth at the Thunder Over the Rock Air Show STEM Fair. He used this platform to educate the local community on Air Force weather equipment and capabilities, promoting the career field and inspiring over 7,000 children to lead in the generations to come.

Finally, he accurately provided 72+ hours of weather data for several locations across the world, pinpointing favorable operating windows and highlighting potential hazards to aircrew, mission planners, and the 19th Airlift Wing commander to spur critical decision-making for a no-fail operation.