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CJTF-OIR sustainment chief coins Airmen

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. William Banton
  • 386th Air Expeditionary Wing
SOUTHWEST ASIA --  U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Christopher Sharpsten, Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve, chief of sustainment, visited the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing and congratulated Airmen whose superior performance directly contributed to OIRs success, during a lunch and coining ceremony at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia, Dec. 20.

“It can’t be overstated how important your contributions have been to the mission,” said Sharpsten. “I would like to personally thank each and every one of you for your hard work and continuing support.”

In conjunction with partner forces, Combined Joint Task Force - Operation Inherent Resolve is tasked to defeat the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria throughout the area of operation to increase regional stability.


Sharpsten, oversees joint and coalition supply, maintenance, distribution, basing, facilities, and life support operations in the fight against ISIS.


The following 386th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron personnel were coined by Sharpsten:

• Airman 1st Class Christian Allen, a ramp services specialist and aerial port expeditor who’s knowledge is key to allowing the aerial port to load aircraft in advance of a crew showing up. This creates additional slots later in the day for additional aircraft to be loaded if needed.

• Senior Airman Julian Henderson, a fuels distribution operator who’s efforts on the flight line have personally contributed to the safe issuance of over two million gallons of fuel to mobility aircraft supporting OIR movements.

• Senior Airman Randy Willis, a general purpose mechanic who rapidly rebuilt the engines on five sortie generating vehicles thereby slashing vehicle downtime and returning the mission critical coded vehicles back to the customer.

• Staff Sgt. William Concepcion, a fire truck and materiel handling equipment mechanic who served as the sole firetruck mechanic charged with the maintenance of 13 firetrucks at two geographically separate locations.

• Staff Sgt. Emma-Louise Czyz, a load planner whose meticulous skill has safely and efficiently planning of aircraft loads has contributed to a rotational movement of 36,000 short tons of cargo and 59,000 passengers across over 3,900 missions.

• Staff Sgt. Amy King, a squadron program manager, oversees the safety and security programs within the 386th ELRS. Her proactive leadership of these programs enforces a culture of safety within the aerial port during operations.

• Tech Sgt. Ronald Balsamo, a passenger services shift supervisor who has been the driving force reorganizing the flow of the base passenger terminal yard to ensure the efficiency of operations and to provide for the safety and security of passengers moving through the terminal.