U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. -- Eight master sergeants from across the Air Force Academy have most likely discovered that they've been selected for promotion to senior master sergeant.
"These promotions are not just indications of their expertise in their various specialties but proof of their leadership ability and dedication to the Air Force and their country. said Chief Master Sgt. Stephen Ludwig, the Academy's command chief.
The master sergeants selected for promotion are Aaron Burton, Robert Devall, Eric Edwards, Matthew Grelck, Christopher Lamson, Chad Pryor and Dana Schmitt.
Lamson, an Academy military trainer for Cadet Squadron 25, said the Academy's Commandant of Cadets, Brig. Gen. Greg Lengyel, informed him of his pending promotion.
"It was a big surprise - I'm thrilled, blessed and ecstatic," Lamson said. "A big part of it is just able being to take care of my family and raise my family in the Air Force environment."
At one point in his career, Lamson considered attending Officer Training School, but said his admiration for the Air Force's senior NCO corps kept him on an enlisted career path.
"I've always looked up to the senior master sergeants and chiefs," he said. "It was where I belonged."
Lamson is one of more than 1,360 master sergeants out of 12,834 eligible across the Air Force selected for promotion. The average overall score for those selected was 673.11. Selectees' average time in grade is 4.02 years and time in service is 18.89 years. Other score averages included 135.00 for enlisted performance reports, 20.63 for decorations and 71.73 for the Promotion Fitness Exam.
Selectee promotions will begin in April, in order of promotion sequence numbers.
The promotion selection list is available on the AFPC public news page, the Air Force Personnel Services website and the Air Force Portal. For more information, visit https://mypers.af.mil.
(Debbie Gildea, Air Force Personnel Center Public Affairs, contributed to this report.)