SrA. Casey L. Anderson, a mental health technician with the 59th Mental Health Squadron at JBSA-Lackland, Tex., is one of the Air Force’s 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year for 2013. Before enlisting in the Air Force, Anderson received a bachelor’s degree in sociology and worked four years as a civilian with Air Force Services in Hawaii. At her first Active Duty assignment, she has consistently performed above her pay grade. The Air Force Medical Operations Agency picked Anderson as a site officer to help determine suitability for a new brain study. She trained 30 psychology residents and numerous other staff members and served as wing predeployment stress instructor and squadron instructor for bystander intervention, basic lifesaving support, and physical fitness training. She also conducted nearly 1,000 post-traumatic stress disorder assessments, saving hundreds of provider hours. Anderson’s home of record is New Brighton, Pa. The Daily Report is shining the spotlight on each OAY in the days 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: SrA. Steven C. Hedgepeth.
A new report on modernizing Air Force training and education suggests borrowing a method from the civilian technology industry to help Airmen and Guardians build skills in key new areas like artificial intelligence: stackable certificates.