Show Notes
Originally from Lake County, Indiana, Chief Lewis enlisted in the U.S. Air Force immediately after September 11 th , 2001. He went to Air Force Basic Training immediately after high school at Lackland Air Force Base (AFB), Texas. He chose to be a Missile and Space Systems Technician (2MOX2A) and began technical school at Lackland AFB studying Electronic Principles with phase two at Vandenberg AFB, California. In 2003 a deployment opportunity for volunteers came up and he jumped at the chance to travel and do his part in the fight against terrorism. In April 2005, he transitioned from the Air Force to the Army through the Blue to Green program and became a Cavalry Scout (19D). In 2006, he was selected at Special Forces Assessment and Selection (SFAS) and was sent to Airborne School at Ft. Benning, Georgia with immediate follow on to the Special Forces Qualification Course (SFQC) at Ft. Bragg, North Carolina. He received his first choice in both language and duty assignment; Special Forces Engineer Sergeant (18C) and reported to 3 rd Special Forces Group (Airborne). Upon arrival at 3 rd Group, he was sent to a Tactical Equine Course and then deployed to Afghanistan and put all of his new skills to the test. After several deployments he was then selected to go back to the U. S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School to attend the Special Forces Assistant Operations and Intelligence Sergeant Course (18F). Following the completion of the Intelligence course, he spent time in Chicago with 20 th SFG and helped with recruiting for the unit. In 2015 he would go on to flight school at Ft. Rucker, Alabama. There he would become a Warrant Officer and learn to fly single and multi-engine helicopters (153M). After the completion of flight school, Chief Lewis was sent back to Ft. Bragg, North Carolina for the remainder of his career. He now spends his retirement as a veteran advocate helping various non-profits. TImeLine • US Air Force Missile and Space Systems Maintenance Technician (2M0X2) 2002-2005 • US Army Cavalry Scout (19D) 2005-2006 • US Army Special Forces Engineer Sergeant (18C) Green Beret 2006-2010 • US Army Special Forces Operations and Intelligence Sergeant (18F) Green Beret 2010-2015 • US Army Aviation Warrant Officer (153M) Helicopter Pilot 2015-2019 Deployments • Saudi Arabia • Oman • Qatar • Turkey • Germany • Cyprus • Afghanistan • Kyrgyzstan • Kuwait • Iraq • Turkey • Spain • Germany • Ireland • Jamaica • United Kingdom • Puerto Rico Achievments • Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal with “N” Device • Air Force Missile Badge • Joint Service Commendation Medal • NATO Medal • Afghanistan Campaign Medal w/3 stars • Army Good Conduct Medal • NCO Professional Development ribbon • Parachutist Badge • Combat Infantryman Badge • Special Forces Tab • Parachute Wings of the Irish Defense Forces • Reserve Component Overseas Training Ribbon • Italian Para-Commando Saboteur Free Fall Parachute Jump Badge • British Army Parachute Badge • German Armed Forces Parachutist Badge • U.S. Army Military Free Fall Parachutist Badge
More from Military Unsung Heroes
Assignments July 2002 - August 2002, Student, Basic Military Training, 321 TRS, Lackland AFB, TX August 2002 - November 2002, Student, Electronic Principles, 344 TRS, Lackland AFB, TX November 2002 - March 2003, Student, Missile and Space Systems Electronic Maintenance Training, 532 TRS, Vandenberg SFB, CA March 2003 - June 2006, ICBM Electro-mechanical Technician, 90 MMXS, F.E. Warren AFB, WY June 2006 - June 2008, Wing ICBM Codes Controller, 90 OSS, F.E. Warren AFB, WY June 2008 - August 2008, Student, Space 100/SBIRS Mission Course, 533 TRS, Vandenberg SFB, CA August 2008 - June 2010, SBIRS Mission Crew Chief, 2 SWS, Buckley SFB, CO June 2010 - January 2012, NCOIC Operations Integration, 460 OSS, Buckley SFB, CO January 2012 - December 2016, NCOIC Training Division (SBIRS GEO), 460 OG, Det 1, Boulder, CO December 2016 – June 2021, Space 200 Instructor, NSSI, Peterson SFB, CO December 2016 – June 2018, Space 200 Flight Chief, NSSI, Peterson SFB, CO June 2018 – September 2019, Space 300 Flight Chief, NSSI, Peterson AFB, CO September 2019 – November 2020, College of Space Warfare Flight Chief, NSSI, Peterson SFB, CO November 2020 – June 2021, Senior Enlisted Leader, NSSI, Peterson SFB, CO June 2021 – Present, Operations Superintendent, 16 EWS, Peterson SFB, CO Promotions 02 Jul 2002 - Airman First Class (A1C) 02 Nov 2004 - Senior Airman (SrA) 01 Jul 2006 - Staff Sergeant (SSgt) 01 Oct 2013 - Technical Sergeant (TSgt) 01 Jan 2018 - Master Sergeant (MSgt)
Major James E. Webber was born and raised in Leavenworth, Kansas, where he graduated with honors from Leavenworth Senior High School in 1968. After four years in the Air Force ROTC program at Washburn University in Topeka, he graduated in 1972 with a Bachelor’s degree in Biology and was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant as a Minuteman Nuclear Missile Launch Officer at F.E. Warren Air Force Base in Cheyenne Wyoming. Major Webber achieved instructor status in Minuteman I and Minuteman III Missile systems as well as Missile Combat Crew Commander in Minuteman III culminating in the award of the Combat Crew Excellence Award in 1976. This award is earned by only the top 10 percent of the entire missile crew force. After his four year tour in missile operations, Major Webber transitioned into the relatively unknown career field of Space Systems Operations. For the next 16 years, Major Webber became a pioneer in the development, testing, and operational training of large phased array strategic warning radar systems. In 1981, Major Webber earned the 15th Air Force, Space Operator of the Year Award for sustained superior performance and was in the initial cadre of personnel who formed Air Force Space Command. He earned a Master of Arts Degree in Space Systems Management from Webster University and taught courses in Natural Science and the Fundamentals of Space Flight as an adjunct professor for the University of Alaska, Pikes Peak Community College, and Webster University. Major Webber and his wife of 51 years, Suzy, raised two wonderful sons, Trey and Taran.
Col John Cornett is Deputy Director, Inspections Directorate and Inspection Team Chief, The Inspection Agency, Department of the Air Force. The Inspections Directorate provides inspections and reporting for Department-level Field Operating Agencies, Direct Reporting Units, oversight inspections of Major Commands, and special inspections as directed by The Inspector General and Secretary of the Air Force. Col Cornett received his commission following graduation from the University of Kentucky in 2000. He has operational experience in nuclear and conventional operations in the continental United States, at Andersen AFB, Guam as part of the Continuous Bomber Presence, Diego Garcia in Operation Enduring Freedom, and at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar supporting the fight against ISIS and other terrorist networks. Col Cornett has served in a variety of assignments as a B-52H instructor electronic warfare officer and weapons officer at Barksdale AFB, Louisiana and Minot AFB, North Dakota. He held a staff assignment at Joint Chief of Staff J-33 in the Pentagon as a Presidential Strike Advisor and Bomber Planner. Additionally, he served as the Director of Operations for the 69th Bomb Squadron, where he led a successful deployment to Al Udeid, which was followed by commanding the 5th Operations Support Squadorn in Minot AFB.