Ryan Lawton

Hours per week: 42

• Managed and meticulously maintained the F-35 Flight Equipment program, a program valued at more than $55 million in life-saving equipment across two fighter squadrons, ensuring that it was always serviceable and complied with all military technical orders.
• Completed the Advanced Readiness Training (ART) program, which demonstrated how to employ high-speed tactics that included "shoot, move, and communicate" drills, building and defending fortified positions, and Quick Reaction Force (QRF) responses.
• Trained in law enforcement techniques like de-escalation, close-quarters combat (CQB), and effectively catching suspects, which are the same skills needed for border security operations.
• Showed remarkable technical skill by mastering three distinct airframe equipment systems (F-15, F-35, and F-16 Airframes) in four years and sustaining the mission going without direct supervision.

August 12th, 2025 - Present

Hours per week: 47

• Managed the organization of parachute shop inspections for the F-15 Strike Eagle, certifying complicated emergency systems where "zero-failure" is the required standard.
• Hand picked by higher-ups to be the lead trainer and mentor for new airmen; assigned to oversee the professional growth and technical certification of junior airmen, senior airmen and, sergeants ensuring sure the production and safety standards were always met.

Rapid Response Aircrew Flight Equipment Technician

Hours per week:60

• Technician for Rapid Response Aircrew Flight Equipment setting up theater operations while launching aircraft for Operation Cope Tiger was very crucial, the F-35 airframe was used for the first time as a deadly presence in the Indo-Pacific region.
• Responsible for launching and recovering jets to maintain a rapid and lethal ALERT posture. This highly responsive team was prepared to launch aircrews around the clock, covering more than 2.5 million nautical miles. Our mission ensured that pilots were always ready to take off and demonstrate air superiority across Asian airspace.
• In recognition of his unwavering dedication and exceptional performance, SrA Lawton was awarded the Air and Space Achievement Medal by Lt. Col Curran. Through his single-handed efforts, he enabled 26 aircrew members to continue their training, ensured rapid response capabilities, and maintained the pilots’ readiness and lethality to support joint operations with partner nations such as Thailand, Korea, and Singapore.