WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio -- Being in the right place at the right time and talking to the right people can change an Airman’s path when least expected. That seemed to be the case for Airman 1st Class David Lopez, 87th Aerial Port Squadron cargo apprentice, when he applied to attend the 2024 annual Student Veterans of American Leadership Institute conference.
Lopez, a student at Shawnee State University and president of the school’s SVA chapter, was one of 80 out of over 200,000 applicants who attended the conference in Washington, D.C.
The SVA is an organization that promotes academic, professional and personal development of veterans in higher education through chapter programs and services. Lopez said there are around 750,000 members in SVA all over the U.S. and two other countries.
“I hesitated when applying,” Lopez said. “I didn’t know if I’d be able to get through the selection process. When I got the acceptance email two days later, I was in shock that I got it.”
In late October 2024, Lopez was flown to Washington, D.C. where he spent the next four days attending the course and exploring the nation’s capital.
“It was phenomenal to say the least,” Lopez said. “They showed us things that we didn’t even think of and things we didn’t even know were possible. The whole course was about learning how to become a good leader, how to lead, being a part of a group and being an effective contributor in a group.”
In lieu of presenting questions to Congress, attendees were given the chance to present their questions to higher up members of the Department of Defense, members of the Biden administration and some individuals from the Department of Education.
However, due to some issues, Lopez and other students were unable to participate in this portion of the conference and passed along their questions to other students.
Lopez was presented with the opportunity to showcase the flexibility of Airmen and decided to coordinate a tour of the National Gallery of Art by reaching out to a fellow Airman he knew in the area who is a Capitol Police officer.
The officer was not on duty at the time, so he introduced them to another officer who took them around the area, hooked them up with challenge coins and some other swag.
Lopez said the highlight of the tour was a stop at the Library of Congress where the officer took them in an elevator which took them into the dome of the building.
“It was a phenomenal view,” Lopez said. “You could see the entire D.C. area. You could see the Pentagon, the Capitol, the Washington Monument, the White House, Cathedrals, everything. It was amazing to say the least.”
Lopez said the combination of the stellar training and the amazing tour really made up for him not being able to present his questions in person. He missed out on doing some of the exciting things planned but still stumbled into a great overall experience.
“My roommate and I did kind of a self-study of, ‘What are the chances?’” Lopez said. “What are the chances of getting into the Leadership Institute? You had to serve in the military just to get in. Then, you had to apply and be one of the 80 selected. After being picked, what are the odds you end up at the Library of Congress enjoying a breathtaking view? It was just too cool.”