Pride of the Pack: Staff Sgt. Gomes 20-26 May

  • Published
KUNSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea --  

Rank and name: Staff Sgt. Abiola Gomes

Unit: 8th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, 35th Aircraft Maintenance Unit combat oriented supply organization

Duties: I'm responsible for providing 35th AMU maintenance personnel the best supply support by accurately researching, controlling and issuing critical aircraft parts to keep our jets airborne.

Hometown: Brooklyn, N.Y.

Hobbies: Travelling, cooking, learning about different cultures and word games.

Favorite music: I listen to a lot of Gospel. My favorite being forgiveness by West.

Follow on: Mildenhall, United Kingdom

Last good movie you saw: Courageous

Best thing you've done here: Assisted in painting a 100 meter wall for the local orphanage. It was an amazing experience interacting with the kids and seeing their faces lit up with our presence.

What she did:
Staff Sgt. Abiola Gomes truly exemplifies a Wolf Pack NCO. She hit the ground running and hasn't stopped since she arrived. Gomes partnered with 8th Logistics Readiness Squadron to assemble a $3.5 million mission support kit to sustain eight F-16 Fighting Falcon combat aircraft during exercise Max Thunder 13-1. She requisitioned and issued 33 critical spares totaling $1.9 million. Her efforts enabled 72 successful sorties with a mission capable rate of 81 percent. Additionally, her ability to source 12 critical assets from home station averted the grounding of three aircraft, allowing the air tasking order to be met for the 35th AMU during the largest Air Component Command exercise in Korea. Her leadership and unmatched supply expertise during this training exercise facilitated U.S. Air Force and Republic of Korea air force interoperability and commitment to deter conflict in this region. Furthermore, her actions enabled 13 pilot upgrades and facilitated critical training with friendly forces. Finally, she returned more than $3 million assets within two days back into the supply inventory to support and sustain world-wide F-16 Fighting Falcon fleet requirements. Gomes's stalwart leadership, contributions and "Can Do" attitude enabled the 8th Fighter Wing to succeed in its mission to "take the fight north."

Submitted by Tech. Sgt. Rashonda Joyner