LITTLE ROCK AIR FORCE BASE, Ark. --
Rank and name: Master Sgt. Joshua Hawkins
Unit: 19th Airlift Wing
Official Duty title: Wing plans and programs senior enlisted leader
Hometown: Sumner, IL
Time in service: 16.5 years
Time at Little Rock: 14 years
Goals: Finish M.B.A. this year while continuing to build a competitive resume for future employment opportunities.
Hawkins led the installation's Operational Security program, working directly with senior leadership to build and enforce protocols that protect our people, critical data, and multi-billion-dollar assets.
Additionally, he acted as the primary liaison for the Wing during a massive multi-agency nuclear response exercise, ensuring military capabilities were seamlessly integrated with state and federal emergency plans.
Finally, he facilitated weekly Battle Rhythm briefings for the wing, translating complex data from multiple departments into a clear, actionable picture for senior leadership.
Rank and name: Tech. Sgt. Michael Redick
Unit: 373rd Training Squadron Detachment 4
Official Duty title: Section chief
Hometown: Memphis, TN
Time in service: 13 years, 2 months
Time at Little Rock: 7 years, 8 months
Goals: Sub 23 5k, achieve Airframe and Powerplant certification.
Redick earned his Master Instructor Certification while leading instructors across seven maintenance career fields. He directed an overseas mobile training mission for German and French forces qualifying personnel on liquid oxygen servicing, transport, and safety.
Furthermore, he completed his master’s degree in DoD Contract Management directly contributing to maintenance training and resources.
Rank and name: Staff Sgt. Justin McCoy
Unit: 19th Contracting Squadron
Official Duty title: Contract specialist
Hometown: Brighton, CO
Time in service: 6 years, 5 months
Time at Little Rock: 5 years, 8 months
Goals: Earn Admin degree and Contracting Warrant, make Tech. Sgt.
McCoy coordinated an overnight, three day contingency contracting training event, synchronizing efforts with 8 offices to forge expeditionary readiness & interoperability.
He was the “go-to” specialist with only 6 months experience, entrusted with initiating a contract vehicle to empower mission partners and expedite $267K in deployment gear.
Finally, upon identifying four at-risk members, McCoy established comprehensive individualized fitness and nutritional plans to prepare the Squadron for the new standards.
Rank and name: Senior Airman Ryan Summers
Unit: 19th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron
Official Duty title: Crew chief
Hometown: Tempe, TX
Time in service: 5 years
Time at Little Rock: 4 years, 7 months
Goals: Finish CCAF
Summers was the top performer of a team where he executed 38 maintenance actions in preparation of three deployment aircraft, ensuring the safe departure of 70 members into the Area of Responsibility.
He also partnered with five Air Force Specialty Codes (AFSC) to assess and evaluate an aircraft that sustained a hard landing. He inspected, identified, & executed a main landing gear repair, restoring the aircraft to FMC status.
Finally, Summers found three Technical Order discrepancies and submitted priority change requests to update fleet-wide protocols that will improve maintenance efficiency for the C-130J enterprise.