Photo By Tech. Sgt. Lee Murphy | U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Jessica B. Runnells, a maintenance management analyst with...... read more read more
CHEYENNE, Wyo. – For Master Sgt. Jessica B. Runnells, keeping a C-130 Hercules in the air requires more than just wrenches and hydraulic fluid; it requires a deep understanding of the data that tracks the aircraft’s lifespan.
In maintenance management with the 153rd Airlift Wing, Runnells operates in a world that serves as the "past, present, and future" of maintenance operations.
"It is literally the backbone of everything that they can or want to do out there," she said regarding her section’s impact on mission success.
Having served in the Wyoming Air National Guard for 20 years, Runnells has seen the job evolve. Originally trained as a scheduler, she transitioned into analysis, a role that acts as the database manager for the wing. Her shop tracks complex maintenance information systems that have everything from time-change inspections to individual serial numbers on aircraft parts. Her daily duties often involve troubleshooting complex data errors that line maintainers cannot resolve on their own.
"If they're having issues with a write-up, we try to help them fix it," she explained. "If we can't fix it at our level, we're the only ones that are allowed to talk to the database programmers."
Beyond the technical aspect, her role is vital for forecasting. Whether the wing is preparing for a deployment or scheduling an aircraft for long-term depot maintenance, the analysis section provides the data commanders need to make decisions.
Despite two decades of service, Runnells stays motivated by her family and her team. She views her service as a necessary means of support, but finds genuine satisfaction in the camaraderie of the shop.
"Working with my coworkers and getting a project done is the most satisfying part of doing this job," she said.
While her current work keeps her behind a desk, Runnells is no stranger to unique forms of flight. Born in Germany as a military child, she has a history of aviation that predates her time with the C-130.
"In high school, I was part of the weirdest clubs," she laughed. "I was actually in a hot air balloon club."
She later took glider lessons at Owl Canyon, where she experienced flight in its quietest form—being towed up by a prop aircraft and releasing the line to glide back down.
From unpowered gliders to the heavy-lift capabilities of the C-130, Runnells continues to ensure the 153rd Airlift Wing remains ready to fly, one data point at a time.
| Date Taken: | 12.07.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 12.11.2025 12:47 |
| Story ID: | 553446 |
| Location: | CHEYENNE, WYOMING, US |
| Web Views: | 13 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Behind the Mission: Master Sgt. Jessica Runnells, by TSgt Lee Murphy, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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