Mike Paoli
Daniel Osburn (right), 412th Test Wing technical director, continues the leadership discussion with graduates Sarah Beysselance, 412th Test Wing Financial Management, and Vince La Luz, 412th Communication Squadron (Photo by Mike Paoli)
More than 40 wing members recently graduated from the wing’s premier leadership laboratory.
During a ceremony at Club Muroc, valedictorian Master Sgt. Taylor Hydrick, 412th Test Wing Inspector General Office, said the one-year Vanguard Leadership Course taught him that there is no such thing as a natural born leader.
"It's about building relationships based on trust, respect, and empathy … It's through these relationships leadership is earned as freely given consent," said Hydrick. “Leaders are mentors, and the very best leaders are coaches.”
Fellow valedictorian and speaker Penny Avino, 412th TW Financial Management, said her most memorable moment was during a speech by Brig. Gen. Doug Wickert, 412th TW commander, in which the general said that leaders take care people, and let the people take care of the mission.
Graduates from the course’s two-year project program are:
- Robert White, 412th Maintenance Squadron
- Meliza Norwood, 412th Test Wing Plans and Programs
- Melissa Albright, 412th TW Financial Management
- Spencer Jernigan, 412th TW Plans and Programs
- Adelle Adams, 412th Security Forces Squadron
- Alison Vasquez 812th Test Support Squadron
- Wende Wagner, 412th Comptroller Squadron
- Serena Johnson, 412th Force Support Squadron
- Amarachi Egbuziem-Ciolkosz, 772nd Test Squadron
- Senior Master Sgt. Angelina Couch, 412th TW Director of Staff Office
Graduates from the program’s one-year program are:
- Joe Walsh, 775th Test Squadron
- José Estrada, 775th TS
- Caleb Amposta, 775th TS
- Penny Avino, 412th TW/FM – valedictorian
- Lewis Roseberry 771st TS
- Michael Vining, 412th Range Squadron
- Jonathan Hahn, 812th Civil Engineering Squadron
- Michael Corpuz, 812th Aircraft Instrumentation Test Squadron
- Vincent La Luz , 412th Communications Squadron – valedictorian
- Tamara Holt, 412th RANS
- Kelsey Stillwell, 412th Civil Engineer Group
- Sarah Beysselance, 412th TW/FM – valedictorian
- Wyatt Osburn, 412th Operations Support Squadron
- Lorena Rodriguez, 412th Medical Group
- Tracy McCoy-Wellner, 412th TW Public Affairs
- Master Sgt. Paulo Panaligan, 412th CS
- Rachel Morgan-Baladez, 412th FSS
- Master Sgt. Carmen Tercios-Munoz, 412th FSS
- Maj. Marcus ”Phantom” Trautschold, 452nd Flight Test Squadron
- Kiah Brown, 412th RANS
- Master Sgt. Johnny Hakim, 412th MDG
- Melvin Joya, 412th CS
- Giancarlo Casem, 412th TW/PA
- Julio Magallon, 412th CS
- Melissa Alvarez, 412th Civil Engineer Squadron – Plant 42
- Gage Ogeda, 412th SFS
- Ben Serrano, 412th CPTS
- Shona Wood, 412th Test Engineering Group
- Thomas Ogden, 412th CS
- Whitney Sparks, TW Equal Employment Opportunity
- Master Sgt. Taylor Hydrick, 412th TW Inspector General’s Office – valedictorian
- Maj. Dawn Morales, 412th MDG
About 80 graduates, families and co-workers socialized to the music of the Jeff Weiss Trio, a test-wing member band, following the presentation of diplomas.
Daniel Osburn (right), 412th Test Wing technical director, continues the leadership discussion with graduates Sarah Beysselance, 412th Test Wing Financial Management, and Vince La Luz, 412th Communication Squadron.