CCAF honors 916th graduates

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Wendy Lopedote
  • 916th Public Affairs Office
SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. --  The 916th Air Refueling Wing presented diplomas in August to wing members who had earned a Community College of the Air Force associate degree in their respective area of expertise.

At a ceremony in the Woods Auditorium on Sunday of the August unit training assembly, three graduates received their diplomas in person from Col. Greg Gilmour, 916th ARW commander and Chief Master Sgt. James Loper, 916th ARW command chief.

Gilmour congratulated the graduates and gave them a challenge as well. "Getting your CCAF degree is a great accomplishment," he said. "But keep pursuing higher education by getting your bachelor's or even a master's degree. Never stop learning."

CCAF is the largest community college in the world and is the only community college in the Department of Defense. Enlisted members of the U.S. Air Force earn some of the credit required for the degree through formal Air Force technical schools and professional military education. Additional coursework is taken through traditional civilian colleges.

To date, the college has more than 340,964 graduates and has conferred more than 418,242 associate in applied science degrees.

The latest 916th ARW members to earn their CCAF degree are:

Master Sgt. Sarah E. Ellen, 916th Aerospace Medicine Squadron, Allied Health Sciences

Master Sgt. Wendy A. Lopedote, 916th ARW, Public Affairs

Master Sgt. Robert R. Reader, 916th Security Forces Squadron, Criminal Justice

Master Sgt. Roy M. Tart, 916th Logistics Readiness Squadron, Logistics

Tech. Sgt. Samaad I. Bynum, 916th ARW, Aerospace Historian

Tech. Sgt. Alexander A. Killin, 916th Civil Engineer Flight, Fire Science

Tech. Sgt. Amy I. Lane, 916th Maintenance Operations Flight, Education and Training Management

Tech. Sgt. Ben H. Thompson, 916th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Aviation Maintenance Technology

Senior Airman Edna M. Rouse, 916th Security Forces Squadron, Criminal Justice