Square D Spotlight: Staff Sgt. Samuel McCanna

  • Published
  • 100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
RAF MILDENHALL, England --  

Name and Rank: Staff Sgt. Samuel McCanna

Unit: 100th Operations Support Squadron

Duty Title: Weather forecaster

Time in Service:  4 years, 6 months

Time at Mildenhall: 10 months

Hometown:  Newark, Ohio

Hobbies:  Working out and Cross-Fit fanatic. I also enjoy woodworking, painting or anything creative!

Core Value Portrayed: Excellence in All We Do.

Why is serving in the Air Force important to you?
It's a rewarding job that allows me to take care of my family.

What accomplishment during your Air Force career are you most proud of?
Making staff sergeant! It's the first rank that you earn, so it's all on you if you make it or not.

What are your personal and/or professional goals?
My goals change regularly, but right now one of my goals is to get a 100 percent on the personal fitness test before I turn 30.

What is your favorite part of your job?
My favorite part of the job would have to be the people I work with and have worked with. Weather people have some of the best personalities and of course sense of humor. They make bad days not seem bad at all.

How does the individual portray that core value?
"Staff Sgt. McCanna is a new NCO, but has been working at an NCO level from the day he set foot into my flight 10 months ago," said Master Sgt. Kenneth Roberts, Jr., 100th OSS Weather flight chief. "He expeditiously accomplished his certification training two weeks ahead of schedule, which was critical in relieving a 46 percent manned flight.  His weather expertise has been vital to the Weather Flight's support of 719 priority one missions with a 97 percent mission effectiveness rate, all without any mishaps. McCanna has also stormed through his 7-level upgrade and is set to complete his required training eight months ahead of schedule. Any task or requirement given to him has been completed expeditiously and expertly. He has clearly set the standard very high for his peers which is evident by the commander recognizing him as the 100th OSS Airman of the Year for 2015.