Airman 1st Class MariaIsabel Cruz
56th Operations Support Squadron
Air Traffic Control Apprentice
Hometown: San Diego
Years in service: One
Family: Mother, sister and two brothers
Education: Pursuing a Community College of the Air Force degree in management and working on a bachelor’s degree in psychology and criminal justice
Inspirations: My mother is the strongest woman I know; she has done an amazing job raising me and my siblings
Goals: To become a rated air traffic controller and finish my degree
Greatest feat: First person in my family to attend college and serve in the military
Self-description: I’m 5’6’’ short, black hair, brown eyes, like long walks on the beach and candle-lit dinners … oh, and I have a sense of humor
Famous last words: “Live and let live.â€
Off-duty interests: Riding motorcycles, hiking, mountain biking and dancing
Commander’s comments: “Airman Cruz is energetic, talented, motivated and exemplifies the total-person concept,†said Lt. Col. John Bosone, 56th OSS commander. “Not only is she on pace to obtain her radar SEI several months ahead of her peers, she is a constant fixture in the local community volunteering or speaking at schools about military life. Her superior performance, both on- and off-duty, passion for the Air Force and inspirational leadership set the example for other Airmen. She has demonstrated excellence in all she does.â€
