By Master Sgt. Stephen J. Caruso, 514th Air Mobility Wing / Published April 19, 2021
Master Sgt. William M. Simurra, first sergeant with the 514th Civil Engineering Squadron, speaks with Airman 1st Class Autumn Baldini, operations management specialist with the 514th CES at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., April 11, 2021. Master Sgt. Simurra is a career enlisted aviator and will maintain flying status while serving as a first shirt. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Stephen J. Caruso)
U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. William M. Simurra, a KC-10 Extender boom operator with the 76th Air Refueling Squadron, 514th Air Mobility Wing, performs weight and measurements calculations prior to a refueling mission at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., May 18, 2018. The 514th is an Air Force Reserve Command unit. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Mark C. Olsen)
By Master Sgt. Stephen J. Caruso, 514th Air Mobility Wing / Published April 19, 2021
Master Sgt. William M. Simurra, first sergeant with the 514th Civil Engineering Squadron, speaks with Airman 1st Class Autumn Baldini, operations management specialist with the 514th CES at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., April 11, 2021. Master Sgt. Simurra is a career enlisted aviator and will maintain flying status while serving as a first shirt. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Stephen J. Caruso)
U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. William M. Simurra, a KC-10 Extender boom operator with the 76th Air Refueling Squadron, 514th Air Mobility Wing, performs weight and measurements calculations prior to a refueling mission at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., May 18, 2018. The 514th is an Air Force Reserve Command unit. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Mark C. Olsen)
5 2020 was a year of many firsts. One such inaugural milestone: the 514th Air Mobility Wing gained its first flying first sergeant, Master Sgt. William M. Simurra.
Simurra spent several years as a boom operator with the 76th Air Refueling Squadron before being selected for first sergeant duty with the 514th Civil Engineer Squadron last July.
The unique part about this move: Simurra is able to keep flying, which is why he joined the Air Force in the first place. Until recently, this would not have been possible, since certain career enlisted aviators could not serve as first sergeants outside of their flying squadron and maintain flying status.