22nd Maintenance Group Airman earns spotlight performer

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Jarrod Vickers
  • 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.

Tech. Sgt. Christopher Hunding, 22nd Maintenance Group maintenance qualification training program instructor, was selected as the spotlight performer for the week of Feb. 8 - 14.

Hunding, a Sawyer, Michigan native, joined the Air Force in April 2004 and has been a member of Team McConnell since January 2011.

As a maintenance qualification training program instructor, he prepares maintenance personnel to safely and effectively perform KC-135R stratotanker job specialty-specific 3 and 5-level core tasks. When he's not on duty, he enjoys traveling and woodworking.

"Tech. Sgt. Chris Hunding is one of my top instructors for the Maintenance Training and Qualification Program," said 1st Lt. Mitchell Metzler, 22nd Maintenance Group maintenance operations officer in command. "He is also taking the lead on developing training courses for the KC-46A Pegasus and will play a critical role in critiquing the training programs upon the arrival of the new tanker. He is a superstar instructor and was an easy selection for the spotlight performer!"


Who is the most positive influence in your life and why?
My wife, Charlene, is the most positive influence in my life. My daughter, 18 months old, has a mild form of Hypotonia. Every day, my wife works hard to keep everything together at home. I appreciate all she does for our daughter and I never have to worry while I'm at work. She is above and beyond the hardest working, most loving and caring person I know. She always, on top of everything else she does, motivates me to be the best person I can be.

If you could give advice to a new Airman, what would it be and why?
I would tell the Airman to become proficient at their job. Once they have perfected their primary duties, I would tell them to complete their education and obtain a degree as soon as possible. I stress that while that Airman may not want to make the Air Force their career, they would still benefit from a degree for their future endeavors.

What is one goal that you have already accomplished, or would like to accomplish, during your Air Force career?
My original goal in joining the Air force was to compliment my current associate degree in applied science with something in aeronautics or obtain a bachelor's degree in electronics. While I have 10 years in the Air Force, I have still not completed either goal. I've completed many other goals, but I would still love to continue my educational pursuit.

Where is the most interesting place you have traveled and why do you feel that way?
Being stationed in Germany gave me ample opportunities to travel all over Europe. The most interesting of those travels was to Florence, Italy. What perplexed me about the visit was the culture and architecture. The people were extremely friendly, the food was amazing, and the layout of the city was beautiful. There is such an interesting history there and it was a beautiful place to visit.

If you had the opportunity to meet anyone in the world, who would it be and why?
While I cannot think of a particular person I'd like to meet, I would love to meet the team that designed and created the Large Hadron Collider, the largest and most powerful particle collider and largest single machine in the world. It would be extremely fascinating to learn first-hand, coupled with the theory and intricacies of the collider. I'd also be interested in learning about some of their discoveries or current projects.