A medical technician journeyman currently assigned to the 354th Medical Operations Squadron at Eielson AFB, Alaska, SrA. Raven S. Taylor is one of the Air Force’s 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year. Taylor has often been called to fill in for more senior NCOs. She trained three sections in instrument sterilization procedures, ensuring wartime skills certification. She saved valuable time for nurses by contacting 600 patients about lab results. Taylor also revamped the infection control program, ensuring zero acquired infections over 18,000 patient visits. She oversaw 650 preventive health assessments during a 50 percent manning shortage to sustain the wing’s medical readiness. She assisted with 20 minor surgeries, averting costly referrals. She led the medical screenings process, personally handling 2,000 patients, and achieved overall a 98 percent access rate. She also built minor surgical kits, enabling 60 new procedures and decreasing appointment times by 20 percent. Her home of record is Waycross, Ga. She represents Pacific Air Forces among the OAY.
A provision in the fiscal 2025 defense policy bill will require the Defense Department to include the military occupational specialty of service members who die by suicide in its annual report on suicide deaths, though it remains to be seen how much data the department will actually disclose.