MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala--- The Community College of the Air Force celebrated its graduates during a graduation ceremony on May 28, at the Noncommissioned Officer Academy Auditorium on Gunter Annex.
Ninety-eight enlisted members earned their associates degrees through the CCAF, however, only 15 graduates attended due to deployments, temporary duty assignments, and mission requirements. Graduates received their degrees in various fields, including system technology, logistics, and criminal justice.
“The Air Force journey can sometimes be complicated and complex,” said U.S. Air Force Col. Adam Rudolphi, 42d Air Base Wing deputy commander, “There will be times where you lose sight of what you’re doing and forget why you joined in the first place. But if you always fall back on our core values, you can’t lose. You’ll will win every time.”
Retired U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Tom Baker, 42d Force Support Squadron education specialist, gave a motivational speech, emphasizing the importance of pursuing a CCAF degree.
“Today it’s not just about a diploma or an education record,” Baker said. “Today is about recognition of your training, technical skill, your discipline and your ability to serve your country while still investing in yourself.”
Baker also spoke about his experience as a staff sergeant in 2010 when he received his CCAF degree and how that moment was a turning point in his life.
“That CCAF degree was my foundation,” Baker said. “It’s the reason I get excited when I see an Airman graduate. That degree can become more than a credential or an applause, it can become evidence that you finish what you start, that your military training has value and you are capable of more than you might have given yourself credit for.”
With more than 110 affiliated schools, the CCAF is a federally-chartered academic institution that serves the U.S. Air Force enlisted force and awards over 22,000 associates of applied science from 71 degree programs annually, having awarded associate of applied science to over 600,000 graduates since 1977.
“The CCAF is very important for professional development,” said U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Alisia Chandler, 42d Contracting Squadron, who graduated from the CCAF. “When it comes to serving, I want to make sure that my unit sees that I'm committed to getting better. It doesn’t stop because we get to the next level, we have to continue growing.”
Below are the 2026 CCAF graduates:
117th Logistics Readiness Squadron
Master Sgt. Chad Carroll
Associate in Logistics
Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps
Tech Sgt. Adam Brewbaker
Associate in Aviation Maintenance Technology
Air Education and Training Command AFROTC
Staff Sgt. Yves Jacquet
Associate in Human resources Management
42d Force Support Squadron
Senior Airman Casey Money
Associate in Human Resources Management
Tech Sgt. Anastasia Medina
Associate in Information Management
Staff Sgt. Alejandro Cebollero
Associate in Human Resources
42d Contracting Squadron
Staff Sgt. Alisia Chandler
Associate in Contracts Management
42d Security Forces Squadron
Staff Sgt. Vincent Gorrusso
Associate in Criminal Justice
117th Security Forces Squadron
Master Sgt. Anthony Stevens
Associate in Criminal Justice
AETC Air War College
Tech Sgt. Elizabeth Guinn
Associate in Information Management
26th Network Operations Squadron
Senior Airman Noah Hartkopf
Associate in Information System Technology
Community College of the Air Force
Staff Sgt. Preston Higgins
Associate in Avionic System Technology
Staff Sgt. Samantha Shaffer
Associate in Aviation Management
Air Force Life Cycle Management Center
Staff Sgt. Brandon Simpson
Associate in Logistics and Computer Science
Senior Airman Naima White
Associate in Information Technology