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NEWS | March 11, 2009

Warrior of the Week: Staff Sgt. Matthew Taylor

437th Maintenance Operations Squadron

Staff Sgt. Matthew Taylor is a member of the 437th Maintenance Operations Squadron and has been stationed at Charleston AFB for more than nine years.

He recently returned from a deployment to Southwest Asia where he served in the 8th Expeditionary Air Mobility Squadron. While deployed, he worked as a senior maintenance operations center controller where he monitored maintenance activities for C-17s, C-5s and C-130s. He was also in charge of sending maintenance recovery teams downrange to repair C-17s to ensure that the mission continued.

At home station, Sergeant Taylor works as an aerospace maintenance craftsman in the maintenance operations center, where he is responsible for servicing the aircraft including refueling, changing tires, cleaning windows and inspecting aircraft for any damage.

According to Sergeant Taylor, what he likes best about his job is being able to see everything that goes into getting an aircraft ready to go out on a mission, from maintenance making sure the aircraft is safe to fly, to petroleum, oils and lubricants making sure the aircraft is fueled and the air transit control operators making sure cargo is loaded.

This "warrior of the week" hails from Easley, S.C., and enlisted in the Air Force more than nine years ago to have an opportunity to travel.

Sergeant Taylor's future goal is to move around the maintenance squadron and work in several different positions to gain as much experience he can in the maintenance career field.

When Sergeant Taylor had free time during his deployment, he volunteered to help the medical group build blood pallets that were being sent downrange to wounded soldiers.

"He is a real go-getter," said Master Sgt. Kenneth Kincer, senior maintenance operations control center controller. "Sergeant Taylor does his job with no complaints. He helps keep the planes flying around the world."