445th Airlift Wing December Spotlight Performer

  • Published
  • By 445th Airlift Wing Public Affairs


Rank/Name:
Senior Airman Karolyn Cichantek

Unit:
445th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron

Duty Title:
Aeromedical Evacuation Technician (Primary); Standard Evaluation Liaison Office support staff

Hometown:
Bailey, Colo.

Civilian Job:
Until school started I was a civilian EMT. Now I'm a full-time graduate student.

Hobbies:
Table shuffle board at the VFW, reading, baking banana and other sweet breads, geeky science fiction TV shows

Education:
Bachelor of Science degree in Biopsychology, Mills College, 2009; In progress: Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology, University of Louisville

Career Goal:
To become a speech-language pathologist

What you like about working at the 445th?
I transferred last May from Peterson Air Force Base, Colo., and the 445th made me feel like part of the family before my first unit training assembly. The 445th is also a much larger unit, so I have opportunities that I didn't have before.

Why did you join the Air Force?
My cousin, Cpl. Matthew Commons, was killed in action during Operation Anaconda, March 2002. I was a freshman in high school and the stories about Jason Cunningham saving who he could as long as he could, stayed with me. When I graduated undergrad and we were still there, I decided I had to do what I could to bring people like Matt home. I obviously couldn't be a PJ, but AE is a better fit anyway.