Captain has promotion ceremony in hot air balloon

Captain Jason Gabriel didn't go the traditional, coffee and cake route with his promotion ceremony.At 7 a.m. Tuesday morning, Jason and his parents, Steve and Jane Gabriel, launched a hot air balloon from an empty lot in Rio Rancho. As the gondola lifted off the ground, Steve began the swearing in

Air Force Ball is back, better than ever

After a hiatus of eight years, Kirtland will stage an Air Force Ball.The ball will be a top-flight event, but it is not necessarily designed to be a formal gala, according to Master Sgt. Wayne Sharp, first sergeant for the 377th Medical Group and chair for the event."The main thing is to come out,

Kirtland Warrior: Senior Airman Aleighsha Webber

 KIRTLAND WARRIOR Name: Senior Airman Aleighsha WebberUnit: 898th Munitions SquadronDuty title: Special Weapons Team MemberHometown: Ashburn, VirginiaGoals: Having already completed a Community College of the Air Force degree, Webber's short term goal is to earn a bachelor's degree in munitions

New AFIA commander enthusiastic about assignment

After flying bombers for a living, running the Kirtland-based Air Force Inspection Agency might appear to be a major change of pace for Col. Leland Bohannon, but the career officer sees this as a great opportunity and an exciting challenge."Here, we see the entire Air Force everywhere," he said. "We

SNL allows service dog for Wounded Warrior

For the first time, Sandia National Laboratories has welcomed a service dog to its New Mexico campus as a workplace accommodation for a veteran living with post-traumatic stress disorder.Three years ago, Rob Mitchell rescued Hunni, a Rhodesian Ridgeback mix, from Animal Humane New Mexico as a pet

Information exchange facilitates change

The Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center Force Improvement Program team is gaining knowledge through the exchange of information with units throughout the center, strengthening relationships with missile and bomber wing customers.In June, the AFNWC FIP team met with members of the 90th Missile

Tops in Blue performance wows Albuquerque crowd

Agility, partnerships highlighted at industry event

Businesses got insight into more than 400 opportunities worth $12.2 billion at the annual Briefing for Industry held Aug. 17-19 at Albuquerque Hotel in Old Town.BFI provides information to the government contracting community on upcoming and proposed acquisitions from the many and varied federal

School liaison officer dishes back-to-school advice

Beth Mann, Kirtland's school liaison officer, said her job is simple: help reduce students' school-related anxiety and transition students into Albuquerque schools smoothly."I got lost going to my first class on the first day of my senior year of high school," Mann said.She remembers the challenges

Kirtland Lanes plans all-women's bowling league

Kirtland Lanes Bowling Center has plans for a new, all-women's bowling league.Bowling center manager Rick Montoya said the idea for the league came from his wife, Janie.Montoya served in the Marines for 27 years as a helicopter aircrew member and maintenance chief. He and his wife remember the