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Virginia Air National Guard’s 192nd Wing recently welcomed its first full-time chaplain, Capt. KMarie Tejeda, marking a milestone in its commitment to the spiritual well-being of Airmen. Beyond leading services, she provides confidential support in grief counseling, suicide prevention and resiliency training, reflecting the Air Force’s Comprehensive Airman Fitness priorities. With graduate degrees, chaplaincy experience and training with NATO in Finland, Tejeda brings both expertise and compassion to her ministry. Her role strengthens both individual resilience and the 192nd Wing’s readiness.
Staff Sgt. Devin Houle displays readiness during Exercise Bronco at Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Mich., when responding to a simulated jet fuel contamination. While the scenario was part of training, Houle’s true achievement lies in balancing dual callings: service and education. After serving more than 10 years on Active duty, he returned home to Michigan, joining the 127th Wing while pursuing a doctorate in physical therapy at the University of Michigan. “Working out in the gym in the Air Force, I just became fascinated with how the body moves and how healing can happen through movement,” he said.
Master Sgt. Justin Heitzmann, 23rd Security Forces Squadron, Moody Air Force Base, Ga., superintendent of plans and programs, made history at the 2025 Air Force Sergeants Association International Convention by becoming AFSA’s first International SNCO of the Year. He competed against nominees worldwide, including one of the Air Force’s 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year. “This award represents a culmination of hard work and dedication to the mission displayed by our Airmen and members of our local chapter,” Heitzmann said. As president of AFSA Chapter 460, he leads professional development, advocacy and community outreach, ensuring Airmen and families remain supported and empowered.
At Travis Air Force Base, Calif., Capt. Lily Romine and Capt. Chloe Forlini represent a rare case of twin sisters serving together on Active duty—with the same rank at the same base. Their path began at the Air Force Academy, where playing tennis fostered their drive to serve. “We realized that playing tennis at the Air Force Academy was more than just being a part of a collegiate sports team, but rather we were building lifelong skills of leadership and resiliency,” Forlini said. According to the Defense Manpower Data Center, fewer than 1 percent of Americans serve in the military. That makes the twin sisters’ shared assignment an extraordinary rarity that underscores both the odds they’ve overcome and their family legacy.
After more than 20 years of service in the Air Force, Army National Guard and Army Reserve, Lt. Col. Valentino Bailey made an uncommon choice: he left the Army, gave up his rank and joined the Navy as an aerospace operational physiologist. A veteran of multiple deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, Bailey pursued a second master’s degree in exercise physiology before entering the Navy’s human performance program, accepting a reduction in rank to lieutenant. “Don’t talk yourself out of it. Pursue it. The last thing you want to do is live with regrets,” Bailey said of his career shift.
Tech. Sgt. Abdoulie Bah, a recruiter with the 350th Recruiting Squadron, achieved a milestone reached by fewer than 10 Air Force recruiters in the past 20 years: 100 accessions in a single fiscal year. His accomplishment earned him a place in the elite “Century Club,” last achieved by a recruiter in 2014. Originally from Gambia, West Africa, Bah joined the Air Force in 2016 and turned to recruiting in 2023. “I want to thank the 350th RS, the 367th Recruiting Group, and my wife, Fatou Bah, for being there for me and helping me get the job done,” he said.
Two Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., health care professionals were honored after rescuing a woman from a burning car on July 9. Darci Curtis (right), who works in the base pharmacy, and Senior Airman Jada McMillan, a medical technician, pulled 23-year-old ShiAnn Bedwell to safety moments before her vehicle was engulfed in flames. The pair received the key to the city Sept. 2 from Sedalia Mayor Andrew Dawson. Bedwell’s mother, Melissa Johnson, praised their actions during the ceremony. “If it had not been for two girls that were strong, … my daughter could be terribly maimed and all of our lives be changed forever,” she said.
Master Sgt. Sarah Bordges (center), 5th Logistics Readiness Squadron,Minot Air Force Base, N.D., has been named the Air Force’s 2025 First Sergeant of the Year. Bordges received a medal of achievement from AFGSC Commander Gen. Thomas Bussiere (left), and AFGSC Chief Master Sgt. Shawn Aiello. First sergeants serve as senior enlisted advisers and act as a commander’s key link to Airmen. They provide support for health, morale, training and welfare, and make themselves available 24/7 to help with issues Airmen and their families may face. Bordges, who has been stationed at Minot for two years, was honored for her dedication to the role and caring for fellow Airmen.
