Contents - Airlift/Tanker Association

Captain Michael Morales
Captain Michael Morales is a C-17 instructor pilot assigned to the
58th Airlift Squadron, Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma. He is 30 years
old and was born in Mount Holly, New Jersey,
on 17 September 1977. He attended Balboa
High School, Panama, where he excelled both
academically and athletically. As a senior, he
broke four school records as a wide receiver
on the football team. He also set a record as a
member of the only 2-person team to ever finish
undefeated as mock trial champions. After
graduating from high school, Captain Morales
was accepted to the Air Force Academy and was subsequently recruited
as a football player. He went on to play on the nationally-ranked
Air Force Academy rugby team and was awarded the Most Valuable
Player award as a senior.
After graduating from the Air Force Academy in 1999, Captain Morales
attended Undergraduate Pilot Training at Columbus Air Force
Base, Mississippi. He then went on to complete C-17 Pilot Initial
Qualification at Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma in September 2001.
He was assigned to the 15th Airlift Squadron, Charleston Air Force
Base, South Carolina, as a C-17 Pilot. Next, he completed the C-17
Airdrop Co-Pilot course, December 2002, and C-17 Airdrop Aircraft
Commander course, August 2004, both at Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma.
Captain Morales was assigned to the 58th Airlift Squadron, Altus
Air Force Base, Oklahoma, as a C-17 Formal Training Unit Airdrop
Instructor Pilot in September, 2005.
Captain Morales is married to the former Elisha Monique Poag. He
is active at the Altus base chapel as a worship leader and is the leader
of Officer Christian Fellowship in the area. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree
in Legal Studies from the Air Force Academy and has completed
57 hours towards a Master’s Degree in Divinity from Liberty University.
He was awarded the 58th Airlift Squadron Company Grade Officer
of the Quarter, 1st Quarter 2006 and the 58th Airlift Squadron Company
Grade Officer of the Year in 2007. Captain Morales deployed to
Kabul, Afghanistan as a mentor to the Afghan Air Corps and excelled
there. He received five medals while deployed, including the Army
Commendation Medal.
Technical Sergeant Maurice L. Osborne
Technical Sergeant Maurice L. Osborne, is an executive flight attendant
assigned to the 412th Flight Test Squadron (Speckled Trout),
Edwards Air Force Base, California. He is 33 years old. Sergeant Osborne
was born in Fairfield, California, on 8
February 1975. He graduated from Fairfield
High School in 1993 and enlisted in the Air
Force 21 June 1994.
Upon completion of Basic Military Training
at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, he attended
Occupational Therapy Assistant training at Allied
Health Science, Fort Sam Houston, Texas,
graduating March 1995. In August 1999, Sergeant
Osborne applied and was accepted into the Executive Flight
Attendant career field. He is active in the Air Force Sergeants’ Association
and Professional Organizations Steering Council. He is
Edwards Air Force Base’s “Red” Erwin Outstanding Career Enlisted
Aviator of the Year 2007 nominee. He is the recipient of the Aerial
Achievement Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal, and Air Force
Achievement Medal.
Captain Steven B. Skipper
Captain Steve Skipper is a Mission Director assigned to the Presidential
Airlift Group (PAG), 89th Airlift Wing, Andrews Air Force
Base, Maryland. Capt Skipper is 32 years old
and was born in Atlanta, Georgia, August 8,
1975. He has graduated from Mount Zion
High School, the Georgia Institute of Technology,
the University of Arkansas and completed
additional study at Stanford University.
Following graduation from high school
in 1995, Capt Skipper entered basic military
training. Upon completion of basic training, he finished the sixweek
Information Manager Technical Training School at Keesler
AFB, Mississippi where he was a distinguished graduate. He was
competitively selected for the Paralegal Apprentice School at Maxwell
AFB, Alabama. After two years of active duty service, Capt Skipper
was selected for the PALACE CHASE program and subsequently
completed two years of reserve service at Robins AFB, Georgia. As a
junior at the Georgia Institute of Technology, he applied to and was
accepted by the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFROTC).
He was named the AFROTC Detachment Warrior of the Year, Blue
Chip cadet, Rhodes Scholar candidate and graduated top of his class
with Highest Honors distinction. He also completed a Master of Science
degree in Industrial Engineering and Production Management
with Summa Cum Laude honors.
Following graduation, Capt Skipper was commissioned as a Second
Lieutenant and assigned to the 96th Communications Group,
Eglin AFB, Florida. Initially, he performed duties as a software analyst
and computer programmer where his efforts led to the group
receiving a Level Five Capability Maturity Model, a significant endeavor
as only the second government organization to receive such
an honor. As the Network Operations Center Deputy Commander,
he led 30 network technicians overseeing multiple classified and
unclassified networks, which received the Air Armament Center
Outstanding Unit Award and numerous other awards following the
wing’s Unit Compliance Inspection. Upon completing his Network
Operations duties, Capt Skipper was selected as the 96th Mission
Support Group Executive Officer, overseeing administrative efforts
for five squadrons and serving as the C2 lead for BRIGHT STAR,
where his team received an “Outstanding” rating. As a first lieutenant,
he was selected as the 96th Air Base Wing Executive Officer
where he led an executive support team that directed commanderbased
initiatives for 5 groups and 22 squadrons consisting of 8,000
airmen. His leadership efforts led to him receiving the 2006 Lance
P. Sijan leadership award for the 96th Air Base Wing.
In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Capt Skipper served as
the Air Fore One liaison for Eglin AFB ensuring all critical requirements
were fulfilled, which ultimately led to being selected by the
Presidential Pilot to become a member of the Air Force One team.
As a Mission Director for the Presidential Airlift Group, he has led
numerous missions spanning over 250 flight hours, including President
Ford’s funeral, the G-8 Summit, the Latin-America conference
and the Africa diplomacy visit. Most recently, Capt Skipper completed
Squadron Officer School in residence, where he received distinction
as a Top-Third Graduate, Outstanding Contributor and was
voted by his peers for the Clebe McClary TEAM leadership award.
His military awards include the Air Force Commendation Medal, Air
Force Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Air Force
Global War on Terror Medal, and Armed Forces Service Medal.
Young Leadership Awards Continue >
“The real leader has no need to lead – he is content to point the way.”
–Henry Miller
A/TQ • Airlift/Tanker Quarterly • Fall 2008
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