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Through Airmen’s eyes: motivation, dedication

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Ashlin Federick
  • 436th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. --  An Airman from Rosario, Argentina, hopes to become a colonel one day, but in the meantime, is being recognized here by his peers as a motivated and dedicated individual.

Airman 1st Class Austin Toniolo, 736th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron Composite Tool Kit support technician, is being recognized as Team Dover's Airman of the Month.

Tech. Sgt. Donald Hilmanowski, 736th AMXS section chief and Toniolo's supervisor, said in his 13-year career he has never seen an Airman more dedicated to his unit and base than Toniolo.

"Airman Toniolo is constantly taking the initiative to improve the workplace," said Hilmanowski. "He is currently serving as assistant to the mobility NCO in charge which processes and deploys all of our unit's tools and equipment. He has guaranteed the success of four presidential support missions since filling that role."

Toniolo said that he finds his job satisfying because it is vital to the mission of the C-17 Globemaster III mission.

"I believe if the tools are not mission ready the plane will not leave on time and the mission won't get done," said Toniolo. "We have to make sure everything is well taken care of so the planes can leave on time."

Toniolo joined the Air Force in March 2012 and has been stationed in Dover since October 2012.

"I joined the military to get an education and to one day become and officer and a pilot," said Toniolo.

One person that inspires Toniolo is Tech. Sgt. Matthew Hampton, 373rd Training Squadron instructor.

"He made me appreciate the little things in life and taught me a lot of things about personal growth," said Toniolo. "He always told me to keep things simple and I would be understood clearly because I tend to over complicate things. He is a good instructor with a good heart and I want to follow in his footsteps."

When Toniolo is not working, he is volunteering on base or in the local community. He volunteers at the Delaware Veterans Home in Milford, Del., and augments Dover's port mortuary mission by performing dignified transfers of America's fallen heroes.

"Airman Toniolo is most definitely one of the most motivated Airmen I've ever known and I'm proud to serve alongside him," said Hilmanowski.