Square D Spotlight: Staff Sgt. Minh Thlang

  • Published
  • By 100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
RAF MILDENHALL, England --  Name and Rank: Staff Sgt. Minh Thlang

Unit: 100th Civil Engineer Squadron

Duty Title: Fire Protection Crew Chief

Time in Service: 9 years

Time at Mildenhall: 3 years, 4 months

Hometown:  Seattle

Hobbies:  Mountain climbing, Cross Fit

Core Value Portrayed: Excellence in All We Do

Why is serving in the Air Force important to you?
Serving in the Air Force is important to me because I flourish working within a team that is striving to meet similar goals. I get to continue building on a legacy of tradition and honor that I am privileged to be a part of.

What accomplishment during your Air Force career are you most proud of?
I was deployed to Manas Air Base, Kyrgyzstan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom where I was called to respond to a KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft ground emergency. The number one engine had been partially destroyed by an airliner that had clipped it during take-off. My crew chief and I made entry into the aircraft to conduct search and rescue, and performed shutdown procedures while exterior crews battled the fire. Our quick actions allowed exterior crews to limit damage to the rest of the fuselage. In order to return the airfield to full operational capacity, my crew and I expediently severed the supporting beam to the number one engine to allow it to be towed away limiting airfield shutdown to less than 15 hours.

What are your personal and/or professional goals?
My goals are to complete the final requirement for my Community College of the Air Force degree this December, and continue my master's degree program within the next two years. Additionally, I am striving to finish my project management professional certification and obtain my commission next year. 

What is your favorite part of your job?
I love the adrenaline rush when responding to emergencies, but it's more the ability and privilege to help those in need that I am passionate about.

How does the individual portray that core value?
"On a daily basis, Staff Sgt. Minh Thlang embodies and demonstrates this quality during every emergency he responds to, additional duty programs he manages and Airmen he leads," said Master Sgt. Dion Bullock, 100th Civil Engineer Squadron deputy fire chief from Yuba City, Calif. "Thlang adopts and implements innovative improvements to processes and procedures to ensure the Fire Emergency Service Flight is continually performing to the best of its ability."