Goodfellow celebrates 2026 staff sergeant release party Published Aug. 26, 2026 By Senior Airman Brian Lummus 17th Training Wing Public Affairs GOODFELLOW AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- The 17th Training Wing celebrated 42 senior airmen selected for promotion to staff sergeant during a release party, Aug. 21. Air Force officials selected 12,671 senior airmen for promotion to staff sergeant out of the 39,774 eligible Airmen with a selection rate of 31.86 percent in the 26E5 promotion cycle. Goodfellow celebrates 2026 staff sergeant release party U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Marcus Naranjo, 17th Training Group senior enlisted leader, congratulates staff sergeant selects during a release party at Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas, Aug. 21, 2026. Naranjo spoke on the responsibility and importance of being a frontline supervisor. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Brian Lummus) Photo Details / Download Hi-Res “The rubber meets the road now,” said U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Marcus Naranjo, 17th Training Group senior enlisted leader. “The Air Force is about to give you the most valuable resource we have: the junior enlisted force. You have to lead them with character, you have to lead them with professional competence and you have to lead them from the front.” Promotion to staff sergeant marks a pivotal point in an Airman’s career where they transition from developing supervisory and leadership skills to applying those new skills as frontline supervisors and noncommissioned officers. Staff sergeants are directly responsible for supervising Airmen, ensuring mission accomplishment and unit cohesion through structured feedback and mentorship. By enforcing military standards, discipline and training, staff sergeants prepare Airmen to meet operational requirements and contribute to the overall effectiveness of their units. Congratulations to the 17th Training Wing’s newest staff sergeant selects: Senior Airman Adrian Burrell, 517th Training Group Senior Airman Adrian Gallegos Apodaca, 9th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron Senior Airman Mia Lyons, 316th Training Squadron Senior Airman Jeffery Johnson, 17th Communications Squadron Senior Airman Nathan Acosta, 17th Communications Squadron Senior Airman Samantha Akers, 17th Security Forces Squadron Senior Airman Christian Del Mazo, 17th Security Forces Squadron Senior Airman Renee Nicole Finona, 17th Training Wing Public Affairs Senior Airman Maura Goodwin, 17th Security Forces Squadron Senior Airman Tyler Hammond, 17th Communications Squadron Senior Airman Dominique Ingram, 17th Logistic Readiness Squadron Senior Airman Bradley Karrington, 17th Communications Squadron Senior Airman Cade Kennedy, 316th Training Squadron Senior Airman Everette Latson, 315th Training Squadron Senior Airman Samiya Little, 17th Communications Squadron Senior Airman Kadenjoseph Lizama, 17th Training Support Squadron Senior Airman Sara Meza, 315th Training Squadron Senior Airman Nassir Murchison, 316th Training Squadron Senior Airman Benjamin Preidis, 17th Security Forces Squadron Senior Airman Ruben Reyes, 17th Contracting Squadron Senior Airman Mouhamed Sarr, 17th Contracting Squadron Senior Airman Trey Watts, 17th Training Wing Judge Advocate Senior Airman Tanner Haver, 312th Training Squadron Senior Airman David Keith, 315th Training Squadron Senior Airman Jerico Montenejo, 312th Training Squadron Senior Airman Marie Galeng, 311th Training Squadron Senior Airman Matthew Straka, 517th Training Group Senior Airman Margaux Blackbriar, 314th Training Squadron Senior Airman Anthony Chieffo, 314th Training Squadron Senior Airman Jake Hanson, 314th Training Squadron Senior Airman Grant Howhittier, 314th Training Squadron Senior Airman McKenzie Roff, 314th Training Squadron Senior Airman Phillip Safran, 314th Training Squadron Senior Airman Jacob Day, 311th Training Squadron Senior Airman Marina Harb, 311th Training Squadron Senior Airman Shauna Mather, 311th Training Squadron Senior Airman Caleb Houston, 316th Training Squadron Senior Airman John Dickson, Goodfellow Medical Group Senior Airman Ailynn Findley, Goodfellow Operational Medical Readiness Squadron Senior Airman Gregory Taylor, Goodfellow Healthcare Operations Squadron Senior Airman Mia Baldwin, Goodfellow Operational Medical Readiness Squadron Senior Airman Breanna Centeno, Goodfellow Operational Medical Readiness Squadron Goodfellow celebrates 2026 staff sergeant release party U.S. Air Force Col. Matthew Norton, 17th Training Wing commander, and Chief Master Sgt. Marcus Naranjo, 17th Training Group senior enlisted leader, present Senior Airman Maura Goodwin, 17th Security Forces Squadron military working dog handler, with her staff sergeant select certificate during a staff sergeant release party at Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas, Aug. 21, 2026. Promotion to staff sergeant marks a pivotal point in an Airman’s career where they transition from developing supervisory and leadership skills to applying those new skills as a frontline supervisor and noncommissioned officer. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Brian Lummus) Photo Details / Download Hi-Res Goodfellow celebrates 2026 staff sergeant release party U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Kadenjoseph Lizama, 17th Training Support Squadron unit security assistant, walks through the gauntlet during a staff sergeant release party at Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas, Aug. 21, 2026. The gauntlet is a tradition where family members, friends and coworkers congratulate Airmen selected for promotion to staff sergeant (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Brian Lummus) Photo Details / Download Hi-Res Goodfellow celebrates 2026 staff sergeant release party Staff sergeant select certificates are displayed during a staff sergeant release party at Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas, Aug. 21, 2026. As the Air Force’s first noncommissioned officers grade, staff sergeants serve as frontline supervisors who develop subordinates, ensure mission completion and enforce military standards. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Brian Lummus) Photo Details / Download Hi-Res