RAF MILDENHALL, England –
Name and Rank: Staff Sgt. William Fleetwood
Unit: 95th Reconnaissance Squadron
Duty Title: Aerospace maintenance craftsman
Time in Service: 5 years
Time at Mildenhall: 19 months
Hobbies: Riding motorcycles, fishing
Core Value Portrayed: Service Before Self
Why is serving in the Air Force important to you?
“Serving in the U.S. Air Force is important to me because of the rich heritage it has within my family. Both my mother and father were enlisted in the Air Force as maintainers, my father retired after 21 years and my mother served 10 years. I want to do my part in serving my country—as my fellow veterans have done before me.”
What accomplishments during your Air Force career are you most proud of?
“My greatest accomplishments during my career are making staff sergeant and being able to work in the 95th RS by passing on my isochronal experience to better maintain the RC-135 platform.”
What are your personal and/or professional goals?
“My professional goals would be to become a SNCO, so I can better look out for my future Airmen, and to retire. My personal goals are to complete a bachelor's degree in aviation maintenance and to complete my airframe and power plant license.”
What is your favorite part of your job?
“My favorite part of my career is that that U.S. government and its citizens trust me to maintain and take care of a multimillion dollar airframe. I take pride in the work I do to keep an airframe, that’s more than 60 years old, flying and completing high demand missions all over the globe.”
How does the individual portray that core value?
“Staff Sgt. Fleetwood has displayed Service Before Self in the way he has filled a very demanding position in our squadron,” said Master Sgt. Andrew Cosner, 95th RS first sergeant. “As one of only a few seven-level crew chiefs, he has worked many long hours and adjusted his schedule around those of his fellow seven-levels. His dedication and willingness to work long hours has allowed the mission to continue unabated in spite of the low numbers of qualified crew chiefs we have assigned.”