Photo By Airman 1st Class Kevin Cumpa | Master Sgt. Catherine Young, 4th Security Forces Squadron flight chief, poses for a...... read more read more
Subscribe
SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. – When Master Sgt. Catherine Young learned she had been selected as one of the U.S. Air Force’s Outstanding Airmen of the Year, she reflected on what she believes has driven her throughout her career: showing up for her people and doing the job in front of her. The Outstanding Airmen of the Year program recognizes Airmen whose service, leadership and contributions distinguish them among their peers. Young’s selection to represent Air Combat Command as one of the Air Force’s OAY is a testament to the impact of her career and her commitment to the people she leads. For Young, that commitment remains at the center of what she does. “I just showed up,” Young said. “I took care of my people and I always did what was asked of me.” Young’s career has taken her through several roles across the Air Force. She began in Security Forces, the Air Force’s law enforcement and force-protection field, before moving into command support as an executive assistant to the Second Air Force. She later served as a military training leader at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, where she helped prepare the next generation of A-10 crew chiefs. Her Air Force journey has been defined by a willingness to step into new roles, learn new skills and embrace unfamiliar challenges. “I never said no to opportunities that came my way,” said Young. “Maybe I should have some of those times. But looking back now, I'm glad I did it because it opened up so many doors for me.” Young encourages other Airmen to approach their careers with the same mindset: to understand the importance of hard work, mentorship and being willing to seek help. “If you're willing to put in the work, then you might start to see tangible things fall into your lap, like opportunities, awards and the chance to step outside of your career field. That will revitalize you from the mundane tasks from your career,” Young said. “Just work hard and don't be afraid to reach out for help.” That mindset carried into her next chapter. When an opportunity to return to Security Forces and deploy arose, Young stepped into electronic warfare and a mission unlike anything she had encountered before. Young had to learn a new mission, new systems and new responsibilities all while leading the people that made the mission happen. The experience changed how Young viewed the mission and broadened her perspective on leadership. Young said the electronic warfare position taught her to look beyond the mission and pay more attention to the human side of the job, which ultimately changed how she viewed her role and the people she worked with. That wider perspective became central to how Young approached taking care of her people. For her, effective leadership is less about rank and more about the impact a leader has on those around them. “They're not striving for rank. They're striving for impact,” Young said. “How people feel in your presence is what makes you a good leader. If they feel safe and willing to work hard to make you proud, that speaks volumes to the type of leader that you are.” Young’s selection as an OAY reflects more than the positions she has held or the missions she has taken on. For her, the recognition comes back to the same approach that has guided her career from the beginning: show up, take care of people and be willing to learn along the way. While her career has taken her through unfamiliar missions and new challenges, Young measures success by the impact she has on the people around her. When she thinks about the kind of leader she hopes to be remembered as, her answer is simple. “I want my folks to know that they could always trust me, lean on me and truly be themselves around me.”
| Date Taken: | 09.14.2026 |
| Date Posted: | 09.14.2026 15:54 |
| Story ID: | 574654 |
| Location: | GOLDSBORO, NORTH CAROLINA, US |
| Web Views: | 43 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Catherine Young: A Legacy Built on Leadership, by A1C Kevin Cumpa, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
