Spotlight: MSgt. Celeste C. Okokon

MSgt. Celeste C. Okokon, a flight chief with the 7th Aeromedical Dental Squadron at Dyess AFB, Tex., is one of the Air Force’s 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year for 2013. Okokon pursued national hygienist certification, becoming one of only 46 certified military hygienists in the Air Force. Among her accomplishments, she developed schedules for 15 providers, increasing dental visits by 11 percent and beating the Air Force readiness goal by five percent, a first for Dyess. Her work also directly helped achieve a 50 percent reduction in dental disease among the base population, and her efforts for more than 800 airmen slated to deploy led to less than one percent needing dental care while overseas. She resurrected a failing self-inspection program, guiding 34 staff members and correcting 64 critical items. She also served as the moulage team chief for exercises, aligning emergency medical training with the Air Force standard. Okokon’s home of record is Colorado Springs, Colo. The Daily Report is shining the spotlight on each OAY in the days leading up to AFA’s Air & Space Conference that starts on Sept. 16 in National Harbor, Md. AFA will honor these airmen there. Also featured to date:

MSgt. Jason D. Payne SSgt. Joseph C. Senteno

TSgt. Adam L. Gomez SrA. Casey L. Anderson

SSgt. Lauren A. Everett SrA. Steven C. Hedgepeth

SSgt. Joshua L. Hanna