22nd OG Airman earns spotlight performer

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Victor J. Caputo
  • 22nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. --  As a spotlight performer, individuals are chosen by leadership for demonstrating one or more of the 22nd Air Refueling Wing commander' s intents: Foster a culture of excellence ... Develop the next generation of leaders ... Set and achieve goals.

Senior Airman John Hadden, 22nd Operations Group standards and evaluation administrator, was chosen as the 22nd Air Refueling Wing spotlight performer for the week of May 13 to 17.

Hadden has been in the Air Force for five and half years and at McConnell AFB for almost five.

While he performs traditional mid-air refueling as a boom operator, he also functions as an instructor boom operator. In this capacity, Hadden evaluates the ability of other booms to determine if they are capable of doing their job.

"In addition to his performance in the aircraft," said Maj. Jeffrey Forness, 22nd OG standards and evaluations chief navigator, "Senior Airman Hadden also excels in the office."

Hadden was recently transferred to the 22nd OG, which is normally filled by an NCO or a civilian. His main duty is to manage the entire group's electronic flight bags, a multi-million dollar program, said Forness.

Hadden's ability to excel was recently highlighted during a pre-takeoff emergency.

The aircraft he was on experienced an engine fire indication during takeoff roll. The crew aborted the takeoff while he executed a textbook ground egress that resulted in the safe recovery of all crew and passengers inside the plane, said Forness.

He was awarded the "Excellence in Airmanship" safety award in recognition of his actions.

Who is the most positive influence in your life and why?
My fellow Air Force members are the most positive influence on me because when I see them striving to do the best they possibly can, it encourages me to keep up and give every task 100 percent.

If you could give advice to a new Airman, what would it be and why?
My advice to new Airmen would be to not settle for "good enough." Always shoot for excellence.

What is one goal that you have already accomplished, or would like to accomplish, during your Air Force career?
The goal that I accomplished was to become an instructor boom operator, and I succeeded in doing that in July 2011.

Where is the most interesting place you have traveled and why do you feel that way?
The most interesting place that I have ever been was Greece in early 2009. There was history everywhere, and the local population was very hospitable.

If you had the opportunity to meet anyone in the world, who would it be and why?
If I could meet anyone in the world, I would choose President Barack Obama. I think it would be interesting to hear his perspective on serving two terms during one of the most turbulent times in the nation's history.