Airman of the Week: Airman 1st Class Thomas Tarantella
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. -- Name/rank: Airman 1st Class Thomas Tarantella
Squadron: 436th Comptroller Squadron
Job description: Financial services technician
Dream assignment and why: Aviano Air Base, Italy. I have always wanted to see Italy and I hear it is a beautiful place.
Favorite movie: Forrest Gump
Favorite food: Any kind of pasta
Favorite books: Harry Potter series
Who inspires you: My father and grand-father. They are always pushing me to do better and to try my hardest at everything.
Where do you see yourself in 10 years: I see myself still being a member of the Air Force. I hope in 10 years I will be happily married and stationed at Aviano AB. My goal by then is to have at least one deployment, my Community College of the Air Force degree and at least a bachelors degree in accounting.
Airman Tarantella came to Dover Air Force Base, Del., as a brand new, 19-year-old Airman with a ton of hidden potential. He asked question after question when he first arrived. In fact, his supervisor didn't know if the questions would ever stop, however, the answers he received were all internalized. He has grown over the past year to be the go-to person in finance for questions on military pay, separation and retirement, permanent change of station and overall financial management decision support. His tireless dedication to Dover AFB Airmen, and ensuring they receive their hard-earned pay was reflected when he identified 152 Team Dover Airmen with unpaid allowances in excess of $239,000 and rightfully disbursing that money out to those Airmen. It is because of his hard work and dedication that he has flourished as a major command and wing-level award winning Airman, gentleman and warrior.
-1st Lt. Todd Newell
436th Airlift Wing financial services officer in charge