MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. – With a heart set on traveling, the youngest of 22 siblings left his home in Nigeria.
He found himself in Dubai selling real estate, while continuing his passion to travel he met a flight attendant and fell in love.
They married and jumpstarted their family. She was unable to continue working with the airlines and went back home to Louisiana. Airman 1st Class Shasanya, 22nd Contracting Squadron contract specialist, didn’t have a visa at the time, so he was unable to see his wife, Darcell, and daughter, McKenzie. He loved Dubai, but he longed to be with his family, so he moved to the states.
About a year later, while lounging around with his family and watching the Hollywood blockbuster “Independence Day,” he thought about joining the military to be a part of something that could save the world.
Shasanya first visited a Navy recruiter, but he abandoned ship when asked if he could swim and turned quickly to the Air Force.
Now, he utilizes the knowledge he picked up going to school in Nigeria to earn a bachelor’s in management information systems.
“Shasanya has the right combination of business skill and attitude,” said Maj. Mark Wagner, 22nd CONS commander. “He came to [the squadron] ready to grab onto the needs of our mission partners and make it happen.”
Shasanya enlisted just a year ago and enjoys working in a business atmosphere; yet, he has other aspirations.
“The Air Force is a branch that motivates its people to educate and better themselves, and it’s one of my goals to go to Officer Training School,” said Shasanya. “But first, I have to finish my Career Development Course volumes, and I would like to at least get halfway toward a master’s in cyber security.”
His family has enjoyed their time in the Air Force, looking onward to the possibilities in the future.
“I look forward to moving, deployments and permanent change of stations with the Air Force because everywhere has something special,” said Shasanya.
As for now, he’s putting in his efforts here at McConnell.
“His personality is a perfect fit to our team,” said Wagner. “He is ready, willing, and able to do the tough acquisition work that needs to get done while keeping the team's spirits lifted.”