Master Sergeant Samantha L. Cochran is the First Sergeant for the 192d Fighter Wing Medical Group, Virginia Air National Guard, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va. She provides the commander a mission-ready enlisted force to execute the unit mission. She resolves issues that, left unchecked, would adversely impact the readiness of enlisted members. As the First Sergeant, MSgt Cochran provides the necessary leadership to sustain a mission-ready workforce for the commander.
Sergeant Cochran was born and raised in Twenty-nine Palms, California. She enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1996. During her active duty enlistment, she continued her pursuit of secondary education earning a Bachelors of Health and Physical Education and a Bachelors of Business Management with a minor in Human Resource Management. MSgt Cochran went on to earn a Masters in Business Administration in 2010 from American Intercontinental University.
MSgt Samantha Cochran enlisted as a Fuels troop, attending technical training at Sheppard AFB, Texas. Her first duty assignment was Ellsworth AFB, South Dakota. While assigned to the 28th Fuels Flight, she delivered fuels product to B-1 Bomber aircraft assigned as well as numerous transient aircraft. After receiving her 5 level in July 1998, she deployed to Al Dahfra AB, United Arab Emirates for four months in support of the KC-10 Tanker mission. While deployed she received change of station orders to Kunsan AB, Korea. She arrived at Kunsan AB January 1999 and was assigned to the 8th Logistics Squadron, Fuels Flight. While there she worked in the Resource Control Center, processing all accounting documents for fuel distribution and receipt as well as coordinating all fuel truck movement ensuring all requests were met within a 10 minute response time. MSgt Cochran's on the job performance helped her to earn Below the Zone. Her follow on was to the 60th Logistics Readiness Squadron, Travis AFB, California. While there, she was assigned to fuel distribution and storage.
MSgt Cochran honorably discharged from the United States Air Force March 2001. She moved to Texas a short time later and joined the Texas Air National Guard. She was assigned to the 136th Airlift Wing, Naval Joint Reserve Base, Fort Worth, Texas. She spent the next 7 years serving in a variety of positions including fuel laboratory supervisor, fuel distribution supervisor, and fuel technician (fulltime). In 2008, she transferred to the Virginia Air National Guard and was assigned to the 192nd Intelligence Squadron, Langley AFB, VA. In 2009, she retrained into an Imagery Analyst position and served on Title 10 active federal orders supporting several missions throughout the AOR for 3 years. In September 2011, she was selected to be a First Sergeant. After her activation expired, she attended the First Sergeant Academy at Maxwell AFB, AL. During graduation, she was selected as the Commandant Award winner out of a class of 67. MSgt Cochran is currently assigned as a First Sergeant with the 192 Medical Group, Langley AFB, VA.
MSgt Cochran has completed a variety of military schools including Non Commissioned Officer Academy (in residence), Senior Non Commissioned Officer Academy (correspondence), and the First Sergeant Academy. Her military decorations include Air Force Commendation Medal, Air Force Achievement Medal (3 Oak Leaf Clusters), Outstanding Unit Award, Air Reserve Forces Meritorious Service Medal (2 Oak Leaf Clusters).
EDUCATION:
2010 Masters in Business Administration: American Intercontinental University
2009 Associates in Communication Applications Technology
2005 Bachelors in Business Management: American Intercontinental University
2004 Associates in Logistics: Community College of the Air Force
PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION:
June 2005 - Non-Commissioned Officer Academy, McGee Tyson ARB, TN
January -July 2009 - Geospatial Analyst, Goodfellow AFB, Texas
February-March 2011 - First Sergeant Academy, Gunter Annex, Alabama
ASSIGNMENTS:
1. November 1996 - January 1997 - Basic Military Training Lackland AFB, Texas
2. January 1997 - February 1997 - Fuels Technical Training Sheppard AFB, Texas
3. March 1997 - January 1999 - Mobile Hydrant Operator Ellsworth AFB, South Dakota
4. January 1999 - January 2000 - Resource Controller Kunsan AB, Korea
5. January 2000 - March 2001 - Fuels Distribution Specialist Travis AFB, California
6. September 2002 - February 2008 - Fuels Technician Naval Joint Reserve Base, Fort Worth, Texas
7. February 2008 - Enlisted in the Virginia Air National Guard, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia
8. January 2009 - July 2009 - Imagery Intelligence Technical Training, Goodfellow AFB, Texas
9. July 2009 - December 2011 - Federal activation attached to the 30th Intelligence Squadron and the 480th Intelligence Wing, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia
10. March 2012 - Current - Graduated First Sergeant Academy assigned to the 192nd Medical Group
Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS:
Air Force Commendation Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal (3 Oak Leaf Clusters)
Outstanding Unit Award
Air Reserve Forces Meritorious Service Medal (2 Oak Leaf Clusters)
EFFECTIVE DATE OF PROMOTION:
Master Sergeant December 07, 2010
(Current as of December 2012)