#VeteranOfTheDay Air Force Veteran Will Ackerman

Today’s #VeteranOfTheDay is Air Force Veteran Will Ackerman, who deployed to Kosovo and Iraq during his 20 years of service.

Will Ackerman enlisted with the United States Air Force in 1986. After completing his training, he was assigned as a fuels specialist.

Ackerman took on a new role in 1992 as a video production-documentation specialist. Between 1994 and 1998, Will returned to serving as a fuels specialist. During this time, Will deployed to Istres Air Base, France, in support of Operation Joint Guard, where he assisted the NATO air campaign against belligerent forces in the former Yugoslavia.

After that deployment, Ackerman began serving as a public affairs specialist. Following the Sept. 11^th attacks, Ackerman led the public affairs team at Royal Air Force Base Lakenheath, England, where some of the first fighter jets to strike targets in Afghanistan launched from.

Ackerman deployed again to Europe in 2003, where he served in Pristina, Kosovo, as part of the multinational peacekeeping operation. Later that year, he was deployed to the Republic of Georgia as part of European Command’s Rescuer/Medical Exercise Central Europe.

Ackerman deployed to Baghdad International Airport, Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom from Jan. 2006 to May 2006. During this time, he was personally responsible for the dissemination of more than 350 stories from Iraq. In addition, Ackerman was the only USAF public affairs specialist on the ground to cover the opening of the first post-Saddam era Iraqi air base, New Al Muthanna.

Ackerman retired in 2006 at the rank of master sergeant. Over his 20 years of service, he received Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters and the Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters.

Thank you for your service!

Nominate a Veteran for #VeteranOfTheDay

Do you want to light up the face of a special Veteran? Have you been wondering how to tell your Veteran they are special to you? VA’s #VeteranOfTheDay social media feature is an opportunity to highlight your Veteran and his/her service.

It’s easy to nominate a Veteran. All it takes is an email to newmedia@va.gov with as much information as you can put together, along with some good photos. Visit our blog post about nominating to learn how to create the best submission.

Contributors

Editor: Adam M. Stump

Graphic artist: Dominique Ramirez