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36th EAMXS Maintenance officer takes title of 11th Air Forces best CGO

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Ryan Whitney
  • 36th Wing Public Affairs
ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam --  A Maintenance officer deployed here from Elmendorf Air Force Base was recently named the 11th Air Force's Company Grade Officer of the year.

Capt. Mary Lent, 36th Expeditionary Maintenance Squadron Aircraft Maintenance Unit officer in-charge, is deployed here from Elmendorf Air Force Base with a contingent of 14 F-22 Raptors and more than 270 Airmen as part of a regularly scheduled Air Expeditionary Force Rotation.

"It's an honor getting recognized with this award, but as a maintenance officer, any type of award that I get is a direct result of the hard work and motivation of the Airmen that I work with," said Captain Lent. "If my Airmen weren't out their working as hard as they are, then my name would have been out of the question for this award,"

Since their arrival in mid-January, the men and women of the 36th Maintenance and Expeditionary Maintenance Squadron's have had a launch success rate of approximately ninety-six percent for the F-22 aircraft, a true testament to the work they are doing.

As the AMUOIC, works closely with a cadre of senior noncommissioned-officers to ensure her Airmen have the means to keep the F-22s in the air, whether that entails managing and ensuring all of their training is current or replacing and ordering parts and equipment.

"I am very proud of Captain Lent and her leadership of the AMU," said Lt. Col. Orlando Sanchez, 90th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron commander. "Capt Lent and Senior Master Sgt. Devite (AMU SNCOIC) have established an environment based on an unconditional commitment to excellence. She leads from the front in every aspect of her Airman's lives."

As a maintenance officer, there are primarily three units that she can be assigned to, the aircraft maintenance squadrons, equipment or component maintenance squadrons, or the maintenance operations squadron, each with their own job focus.

"Basically, I am the voice of the AMU to upper leadership, so that they know what challenges or deadlines we are facing," said the Air Force Academy graduate. "I wanted a job that put me at the heart of the Air Force, and I couldn't imagine doing anything else."
In the AMU squadron, Captain Lent is in charge of most of the maintenance that actually takes place on the flightline, including avionics specialist, crew chiefs, and weapons loaders.

"The AMU's roll in the mission is a vital one, and you get to see the direct effect of the work your guys are doing right away. When you see the jets launch, or return with empty weapons bays hours later, you know your team got the job done, and it's a great feeling," Capt. Lent said.

Capt. Lent has worked on various aircraft platforms throughout her career, including C-5s, C-17s, F-15s, and for the past year, F-22 Raptors.

"She is the best young maintenance officer I have seen during my time in the Air Force. Working side by side with the enlisted Senior NCO cadre, Captain Lent and the AMU have set the standard for deployed maintenance units here at Anderson AFB," said Colonel Sanchez.