786 CES Airman paves way to Airlifter of the Week

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Ariana M. Ingalls, 786th Civil Engineer Squad­ron pavement and equipment journeyman, was commended as Airlifter of the Week, Dec. 19, 2019.

A Johnston, Colorado, native, Ingalls demonstrated outstanding work in the facilitation of installation support. Her involvement in preventive maintenance, work requests and projects that help keep up 5.9 million square yards of pavement, 86 miles of roads and 26 miles of perimeter fencing across Ramstein caught the attention of leadership.

“Ingalls dictates the maintenance and inspections of all the pavements, airfield and roads, and she’s been instrumental in us standing up a lot of our new CE programs of being preventive instead of reactive,” said U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Justin Jones, 786th CES requirements and optimization section chief. “She always gives attention to detail, looks for guidance and tries to be educated to be the best she can at the job.”

U.S. Air Force Senior Master Sgt. Arturo Quinones, 786th Civil Engineer Squadron facilities superintendent, left; Master Sgt. Justin Jones, 786th CES requirements and optimization section chief; Senior Airman Ariana M. Ingalls, 786th CES pavement and equipment journeyman; and Staff Sgt. Joshua Burch, 786th CES data analytics NCO in charge, pose for a photo during a gathering of leadership and peers to recognize Ingalls as Airlifter of the Week at Ramstein Air Base, Dec. 19, 2019. Ingalls coordinated the building and operation of a haunted house during Fall 2019 that raised 4,800 dollars for scholarships given to Kaiserslautern Military Community high school seniors and 750 dollars for the CES Booster Club. Photo by Airman 1st Class John R. Wright

U.S. Air Force Col. Matt S. Husemann, 86th Airlift Wing vice commander, and U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Ernesto J. Rendon, 86th AW command chief, visited the 786th CES requirements and optimization section to congratulate Ingalls on her accomplishments.

“I don’t know if you guys know the impact that CE has each and every day, and I don’t know that we say ‘thanks’ enough,” Husemann said. “You guys are kind of the quiet professionals in the background that are doing everything. Whether that’s the roads we’re on, whether it’s fixing the fences that are out there, or leaning forward and building things, what you do takes care of the families that are here, each and every day.”

Outside of work hours, Ingalls dedicates time to volunteer projects raising money for college-bound high school students and the CES Booster Club.

This past fall, Ingalls, with the help of her spouse, Amber, exemplified the core value of service before self, when she coordinated the building and operation of a haunted house that took 33 days of planning and work with three organizations, 35 volunteers and over 600 visitors.

Their efforts raised 4,800 dollars in scholarships to Kaiserslautern Military Community high school seniors and 750 dollars for the CES Booster Club, Ingalls said.

Accomplishments like these, coupled with a high level of job dedication, are what the Airlifter of the Week program recognizes.

“We have a lot of recognition programs, but this one is about reaching out to all of our groups, and saying, ‘This is your window now to tell us who your finest Airmen are, who are making the job happen,’” Rendon said. “You work extremely hard, not just on duty, but obviously with stuff that you don’t have to do, like the haunted house, and you’re doing it really well. You and your spouse should be proud, along with all of your family.”

CES is like a close family, and the support within and recognition that is given to each other is very much appreciated, Ingalls said of winning the award.

Before the end of 2019, all hard-working Airmen that individuals like Ingalls represent, were reminded by leadership to take some well-earned rest and enjoy time with their families and friends.

“We just went through the exercise, and now we’re getting ready to go into the holiday season, so please take some time to be with family and friends,” Husemann said. “We need to give you that break. You all have earned it, and we’re going to hit it again coming in the New Year because the mission does not stop.”