Med group Airman takes part in Airman Shadow program

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Cody R. Miller
  • 325th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

A 325th Medical Group laboratory technician was nominated by his leadership to show the 325th Fighter Wing commander what it’s like to do his job and how he fulfills his role in training and projecting unrivaled combat air power.

Staff Sgt. Jadow Hughes was recognized for his commitment to generating combat-ready Airmen, ensuring trusted care, optimizing resources, and promoting health by providing the highest quality of customer care and testing options to our providers and beneficiaries. He showed Col. Brian Laidlaw, the 325th FW commander, the journey that a vial of blood takes from the vein of a patient to under the microscope.

Hughes’ job involves enforcing local medical laboratory regulations and advising superiors regarding status and adequacy of equipment, supplies, personnel training and operating efficiency.  He also draws and processes patient samples and examines stained blood smears microscopically and refers any abnormal cells to superiors for reference.

“We generate combat-ready airmen, ensure trusted care, optimize resources and promote health by providing the highest quality of customer care and testing options to our providers and beneficiaries,” said Hughes.

According to his leadership, Hughes has been a critical asset to the medical lab. He serves as the chemistry lead and is responsible for validating $60,000 worth of quality control and patient results annually.

“I recommend Staff Sgt. Jadow Hughes for the Airman Shadow program,” wrote Maj. Christina Encina, Diagnostics and Therapeutics Flight commander, in her nomination letter. “Staff Sgt. Hughes has been stationed at Tyndall since August 2015. During this time, he has been immersed in laboratory operations across various specialties. Some of these include helping re-accredit the medical lab, streamlining the collecting process for over 200 deployers by providing a one-stop-shop method of collection and tracking readiness assessment requirements for 12 other team members and managing $120,000 in inventory.”

She went on to write that Hughes demonstrates the “excellence in all we do” attitude. That demeanor is the reason she selected him for one of the most complex departments in the 325th MGD.

Hughes is originally from Colorado Springs, Colorado and has been in the Air Force for four years. He is married to his wife, Alexandra with whom he has two daughters. He said his personal goals are to complete his associate’s degree from Gulf Coast State College and apply for the inter-service Physician Assistant Program and commission.

The Airman Shadow Program that Hughes participated in is a 325th FW commander initiative designed to recognize personnel and provide an opportunity for the commander to meet with the troops and get a first-hand look at what Tyndall Airman are doing.  The program targets enlisted personnel, E-5 and below, assigned to Team Tyndall.