22nd MXG Airman earns spotlight performer

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman 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 the Air Force's Core Values: Integrity First, Service Before Self, and Excellence in All We Do.

Airman 1st Class Benjamin Dunn, 22nd Maintenance Group maintenance scheduling journeyman, was selected to be the spotlight performer for the week of Aug. 9 - 15.

Dunn is a member of the team of Airmen who schedule the regular maintenance of the KC-135 Stratotankers assigned to McConnell, keeping the more than five-decade old fleet of aircraft ready at a moment's notice.

Dunn is consistently one of the top performers in maintenance operations and has won both the quarterly and yearly maintenance operations Airman-level awards, said Tech. Sgt. Melanie Barney, Dunn's supervisor.

The Chicago native is currently two classes away from completing his Community College of the Air Force degree. He has been in the Air Force since May 2013 and a member of Team McConnell since September that year.

Who is the most positive influence in your life and why?
My dad is the most influential person in my life. He's a hard worker but very humble, and never complains about doing any type of work and always put his best effort into whatever he did and he instilled his skills on me.

If you could give advice to a new Airman, what would it be and why?
I would tell new Airmen to come to work willing to learn from everyone, because there's something you can learn from anyone, whether it's good or bad.  

What is one goal that you have already accomplished, or would like to accomplish, during your Air Force career?
One goal I would like to accomplish during my Air Force career is to pilot an F-22 Raptor.

Where is the most interesting place you have traveled and why do you feel that way?
I haven't been anywhere interesting, but I would like to visit St. Vincent because that's where my mom is from.  

If you had the opportunity to meet anyone in the world, who would it be and why?
I would like to meet Kanye West because I feel that he's a great thinker, when he's calm, as well as a great motivator.