LAUGHLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- Second Lt. Zachary Diehl, 47th Operations Support Squadron airfield operations officer, was chosen by wing leadership to be the “XLer” of the week, for the week of Jan. 30, 2019, at Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas.
The “XLer” award, presented by Col. Lee Gentile, 47th Flying Training Wing commander, is given to those who consistently make outstanding contributions to their unit and the Laughlin mission.
As an airfield operations officer, Diehl is in charge of keeping Laughlin’s airfield on its feet and running.
“As an airfield operations officer, I am responsible for the air traffic control and airfield management operations at Laughlin and the National Airspace System,” Diehl said. “My flight is tasked with ensuring the safe and expeditious travel of military and civilian aircraft, along with maintaining the integrity and effectiveness of our airfield.”
He took charge of 11 different airfield projects to smooth the way for Laughlin’s 93,000 annual flights.
“These projects range from the ongoing aircraft sunshades, repaving of the runways and the redesign of the airfield drainage system,” he said. “I am in no way the technical expert on these projects – that is the civil engineer’s job. However, I am tasked to ensure that while these projects are ongoing we have the least impact to the mission while constantly improving and updating the airfield.”
As a second lieutenant, Diehl is punching above his weight-class filling in as the acting airfield operations flight commander, taking the helm of the Air Force’s sixth busiest airfield.
“Becoming the interim airfield operations flight commander is challenging,” Diehl said. “This position is billeted for a major, and the experience that a major could bring would be much appreciated to the flight and the wing. That being said, I am fortunate to have a very capable team of senior NCO’s, NCO’s and experienced civilians who keep me on the right path. Without them, the flight could not be operating at the high level it currently is.”
On top of his high-speed work day Diehl is also a member of the Laughlin Base Honor Guard, being one of only two commissioned officers to participate in the program.
“Being a member of the honor guard fills me with a sense of pride. Whenever I am able to take part in a ceremony that lays to rest one of our service members who came before us I am overwhelmed with feelings that are hard to put into words,” Diehl said. “Having the opportunity to hand a folded flag to a grieving widow and thanking them for their loved one’s honorable and faithful service is one of the hardest things I have performed in uniform, but that is why I volunteered to join.”
With less than two years of experience, Diehl has learned valuable lessons early on that will help him throughout his entire career.
“Since becoming the interim AOF commander I have learned not to have a stranglehold on my staff’s work,” he said. “My people are all very competent at what they do, so I’ve learned to be more hands off and let them accomplish the mission how best they see fit. So far it’s working out great.”
For his ability to adapt and overcome even the most trying of tasks and still succeed, 2nd Lt. Zachary Diehl was awarded the “XLer” of the week.