CHARLESTON AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. –
Staff Sgt. Dan Atwell is a member of the 437th Operations Support Squadron and has been stationed at Charleston AFB for one-and-a-half years.
He is currently deployed to Balad Air Base, Iraq, as an intelligence analyst with the 332nd Expeditionary Operations Support Squadron. As an intelligence analyst, his responsibilities include ensuring all 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing post-mission reports for all flying units are completed correctly and on time. He also provides threat updates and debriefs every transient Air Mobility Command crew that passes through his deployed location.
"I think the best thing about being in the intelligence career field is being 'in the know,'" said Sergeant Atwell. "I also like being able to connect the dots, so to speak, and possibly make connections that can affect people's lives and missions."
Sergeant Atwell contributes to the Team Charleston mobility mission by giving aircrew threat information to enhance their situational awareness for their missions. He also gives critical intelligence updates to Charleston crews for the local area of the deployed location and for the remaining legs of their mission and also relays any time-sensitive information to them.
"Sergeant Atwell is a very innovative and energetic individual," said Capt. Ryan Wood, 332 EOSS intelligence weapons officer. "He is constantly looking for ways to improve processes and has been a huge asset to the intelligence team here at Balad."
This "warrior of the week" hails from Milford, Mich., and enlisted in the Air Force nearly six years ago for educational benefits and to jumpstart a career. His future career goals include applying for an enlisted commissioning program. While at his deployed location, he also volunteered his time at the hospital to help transport patients from helicopters to the hospital.