AMC Safety SNCO of the Year: MSGT Raymond Soto Rodriguez

MSGT Raymond Soto Rodriguez
92d Air Refueling Wing,
Fairchild AFB, WA

MSGT Raymond Soto Rodriguez, Flight Safety Superintendent, 92d Air Refueling Wing, Fairchild Air Force Base, WA, is the 2021 Air Mobility Command Safety Senior Noncommissioned Officer of the Year. He championed safety at the world’s largest tanker base, leading a flight safety program for two wings, four major weapon systems, a Total Force Integration team of 4,600, and a $4 billion fleet.

Rodriguez, the wing’s Interim Safety Board Officer Performance Reporter, directed safety investigations supporting 63 KC-135R and T tankers, four UH-1N helicopters, and one C-26 aircraft.

Rodriguez authored an aviation maintenance safety program proposal and certified safe practices for aircraft hot-pit refueling operations.

He oversaw the education of 400 aircrew members in Hazardous Air Traffic Reports, examined a 20-ship minimum interval takeoff plan, and briefed crews on emergency and abort procedures.

He restored the Mid-Air Collision Avoidance program, published the wing’s mission pamphlet for civilian pilots, and honed airspace deconfliction with 17 airfields and 110 aircraft.

Rodriguez managed the Airfield Driving Training Program and certified Wing Staff Agency, civilian, military, and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) personnel on airfield operations. He directed a Bird/ Wildlife Aviation Strike Hazard plan, reducing bird strikes by 33 percent from Fiscal Year 2020.

He validated Occupational Safety and Health Administration and Department of Defense standards and coordinated assessment for $170,000 in airfield repairs and $14 billion in KC-46 support projects. He was awarded Wing Staff Agency Senior Noncommissioned Officer of the Quarter honors for the first quarter for his efforts.

Rodriguez authored 42 resident advocate safety briefings for the Nuclear Staff Assistance Visit and Titan Fury exercises and ensured the wing’s successful Nuclear Operational Readiness Inspection execution.

Rodriguez has been the primary Government Purchase Card gatekeeper; he procured $30,000 in equipment and supplies for wing safety. There were no errors on the Fiscal Year 2021 account surveillance audit.

He counseled a Counter-Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems working group on flight and ground safety requirements.

An Aviation Safety Program Management professional, Rodriguez aced a Research Methods master’s degree in science course and applied his skills to safety investigations. He sustained Fairchild’s global tanker support.