LITTLE ROCK AIR FORCE BASE, Ark. --
Rank and name: Staff Sgt. Logan N. Hutchins
Unit: 19th Maintenance Group
Official Duty title: Ancillary training instructor
Hometown: Rockford, IL
Time in service: 4 years, 10 months
Time at Little Rock: 4 years, 3 months
Goals: To progress as far as possible in both military career and education, then eventually build a business in architecture and real estate.
Hawkins represented the U.S. Air Force in a rigorous joint-service tactical competition. He excelled among 97 participants across three branches, securing the prestigious international Silver German Armed Forces Proficiency & Marksmanship Badge.
Earning his Community College of the Air Force degree, Hawkins used his knowledge to advance 7 Department of War mandatory courses, providing 138 hours of instruction through 70 classes to certify 625 personnel within 31 work centers & boosting readiness by 25% across 3 squadrons.
Managing the maintenance testing program, Hawkins administered 301 exams, awarding special certifications for 132 members in 13 specialties, upholding 19 MXG’s technical competence & practice, posturing Little Rock Air Force Base to execute 527 missions, delivering 2,755 cargo tons & 1,483 passengers.
Rank and name: Staff Sgt. Tiffany Simms
Unit: 19th Comptroller Squadron
Official Duty title: Noncommissioned officer in charge of financial operations
Hometown: Washington, D.C.
Time in service: 15 years
Time at Little Rock: 1 year, 4 months
Goals: To promote to Tech Sgt. and broaden overall leadership impact across the installation.
Simms leads a team of 10 Airmen to execute military, travel and civilian pay for Team Little Rock's $413 million military and civilian payroll.
Simms took over as noncommissioned officer in charge and had an immediate impact by identifying 11 no-pay cases during the government shutdown. She coordinated with 4 agencies to not only process immediate payments to the members but also correct future discrepancies.
Simms volunteered 36 hours as an assistant athletic coach for the Track and Field and Volleyball teams, leading 42 students in 13 events and appearing in 2 state championsips.
Rank and name: Staff Sgt.Paige Clauss
Unit: 19 Operational Medical Readiness Squadron
Official Duty title: Noncommissioned officer in charge of bioenvironmental health
Hometown: Davenport, IL
Time in service: 8 years
Time at Little Rock: 2 years, 8 months
Goals: To earn a MS in Industrial Hygiene
Clauss oversaw the base ventilation program, directing 8 troops to capture 534 measurements and piloting a 1st-time Combat Arms airflow study to benchmark 4B policy for 18 other AF qualification ranges.
Clauss assessed 7 areas for mold concerns, driving 2 health risk codes to relocate 8 workers and drafting a plan to improve dorms for 74 AETC students, resolving a 19 AF inquiry & paving a $4 million Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning swap.
Clauss linked 3 units to inspect the base pool, analyzing 43 samples and issuing 6 corrective actions in 1 week (25 days less than standard) to fix chlorine levels. She trained 9 staff and facilitated the opening of the pool on time to benefit 9,000 patrons.
Rank and name: Tech Sgt. Ken Cummings
Unit: 34th Combat Training Squadron
Official Duty title: AE exercise planner
Hometown: Okinawa, Japan
Time in service: 13 years
Time at Little Rock: 6 months
Goals: To become a flight paramedic.
Cummings directed casualty evacuation planning and execution for the Storm Flag 26-07 exercise, unifying fifty-eight career fields and international allies to secure the historic certification of the Air Mobility Command's first Air Expeditionary Wing.
Cummings secured attachment as the first 34 CTS medical evacuation technician to the 137th Air National Guard Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron, bolstering their instructor capabilities and solidifying vital partnerships to sustain flying medic proficiency while enhancing exercise capabilities.
Cummings orchestrated a "Spring Cleaning" revitalization of Building 160 and coordinated critical lodging, logistics, and team-building events for the Expeditionary Operations School strategic leadership offsite, establishing a strong foundation for a newly acquired unit after realignment.