Staff Sergeant Akia D. Carter is one of the Space Force’s first-ever Outstanding Airmen, Guardians, and Civilians of the Year.
Carter is an Airman Leadership School instructor with the 30th Force Support Squadron, 30th Space Wing, at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., where she is tasked with developing senior Airmen to be “effective frontline supervisors,” according to a Space Force video recognizing the winners.
While deployed to U.S. Central Command in support of Operation Inherent Resolve, she “expedited much-needed, and time-sensitive resources … allowing for 357 blood transfusions” to troops wounded in action.
“Her training and deployment of teams is unparalleled. She not only executes her duty at a heightened efficiency, but educates a better equipped military and civilian force with a new tailored curriculum,” according to the video.
Chief of Space Operations Gen. John W. “Jay” Raymond and Chief Master Sergeant of the Space Force Roger A. Towberman honored the first-ever class of OAYs in a video released on social media April 13. An in-person gathering was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Although we could not gather as we normally would have to formally recognize you for your achievements, we want to directly extend our gratitude,” said Raymond. “Thank you for pushing the limits of what’s possible, for changing the status quo, for challenging us to rethink our assumptions, for orienting our actions in a warfighting domain.”
Air Force Magazine will shine a spotlight on each of the 12 Outstanding Airmen, Guardians, and Civilians of the Year over the coming days.