Commissioner Douglas Hudson, from the Delaware Commission of Veterans Affairs, announces the promotion of Air Force Master Sergeant Lakesha Brown to Senior Master Sergeant effective March 1.

The promotion to SMSgt is difficult to make and competitive. The Airforce only allows 2% - 3% of its total global workforce to be promoted to this elite class.

SMSgt Brown, from Magnolia, is a 2005 Caesar Rodney High School graduate and has a Bachelor of Sciences degree from University of Maryland.

SMSgt Brown serves as the Operations Flight Chief for the 612th Air Communications Squadron, Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson, Arizona. She is responsible for 73 Airmen, seven work centers that support and defend Command and Control for the 612^th Air Operations Center in support of Twelfth Air Force (Air Forces Southern) and United States Southern Command missions.

Additionally, her team provides operational maintenance and support for 679 operation positions and approximately 300 personnel across six Air Operations Center divisions in support of the Air Forces Southern 55-million-dollar Falconer Weapon System.

SMSgt Brown enlisted in the United States Air Force from Dover and arrived at Lackland AFB, Texas in November 2005. Throughout her career she has served in various positions in the Communications career field. Her assignments include locations in Washington, California, and the Republic of Korea.

Prior to her assignment to Davis Monthan, she served as a Military Training Leader at the Defense Language Institute, Monterey, California for 4 years. She directly led 1,531 Non-Prior Service Airmen and was responsible for mentoring, training, and leading them to develop military attitudes, effective human relations and social skills. She has deployed twice in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

Awards and decorations:

• Meritorious Service Medal
• Air Force Commendation Medal with 1 cluster                            
• Air Force Achievement Medal with 1 cluster
• Army Achievement Medal
• AF Outstanding Unit Award with 5 clusters
• AF Good Conduct with 3 clusters
• National Defense Service Medal
• Afghanistan Campaign Medal with 1 Service Start
• Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
• Korean Defense Service Medal
• Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal
• AF Overseas Ribbon Short
• Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with Gold Border
• AF Longevity Service
• Air Force Special Duty Ribbon
• USAF NCO PME Graduate Ribbon with 1 cluster
• AF Training Ribbon
• NATO Medal

Other achievements:

• 2013 Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year, McChord AFB, WA
• 2016 Group Military Training Leader of the Quarter, Presidio of Monterey, CA
• 2017 Group Non-Commissioned Officer of the Quarter, Presidio of Monterey, CA
• 2017 Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year, Presidio of Monterey, CA
• 2020 12 AF Senior Non-Commissioned Officer of the Quarter, Davis Monthan AFB, AZ
• 2020 Group Senior Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year, Davis Monthan AFB, AZ
• 2021 12 AF Information Dominance Outstanding Cyberspace Support SNCO, Davis Monthan AFB, AZ