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Airman named top air traffic controller

Senior Airman Logan Williams played key role in tower project

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After enlisting in the Air Force, Senior Airman Logan Williams wasn't sure which career field he should choose.

He eventually settled on the path of air traffic control, not knowing at the time the career field had a 35 percent washout rate.

"I picked whatever sounded like it was high-tech," the 62nd Operations Support Squadron Airman said with a laugh.

It's safe to say the 22-year-old made the right choice.

Williams was recently named Air Mobility Command's Air Traffic Controller of the Year.

It had been a while since the award package was sent to AMC, and Williams had forgot about his nomination for the award. He was pleasantly surprised when his name was announced at a recent commander's call.  

"I feel real honored to win it," Williams said.

The Air Force recently upgraded its weather monitoring systems in each tower, and Williams was tasked with assisting with the software side of the installation at McChord Field. The Airman helped coordinate with the Air Force and the company that installed the system, as well as made sure each person who was going to use the system understood the in's and out's of it.

"It would have been overwhelming if I knew how much work was involved in the beginning," said Williams, who was born in New Guinea and spent time growing up in Canada and Memphis, Tenn. "But ignorance is bliss. You just kind of solved each problem as it came up."

Williams learned a lot about himself during the project - the most important being how to listen to everyone's input. For his work on the project, Williams was named an outstanding performer during the tower's recent Air Force inspection.

But aside from the acclaim he received from the completed installation, Williams is just happy to have found a home in his career field. Despite the hectic nature of his job, the Airman said he hates it when things in the tower are slow.

"I hate being bored," he said with a laugh.

But he loves it when all the aircraft are touching down and bring home troops safely.

"When everything clicks into place and everyone touches down safely, it's a really good feeling," said Williams, who lives with his wife in Yelm. "I always feel like the Air Force mission is getting done every day."

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