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Coining Pope’s Finest

  • Published
  • By 43rd Operations Support Squadron
  • 43rd Operations Support Squadron
POPE AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. --  Col. James Johnson, 43rd Airlift Wing Commander, presented his Commander's Coin to Staff Sgt. Shantell McDade, 43rd Operations Support Squadron, May 18 for her exceptional performance beyond the call of duty.

Sergeant McDade is an Air Traffic Control Watch Supervisor and oversees tower operations for Pope and operations for more than 1,500 aircraft operations, 25 distinguished visitor movements and two aeromedical evacuation missions since her arrival at Pope in early 2008.

Sergeant McDade's job performance is maked in several successes. By redirecting four airborne aircraft, she cleared the path for two Lifeguard helocoptors, accelerating the provision of urgent care to three wounded individuals. Sergeant McDade created a 50-page watch supervisor continuity book which decreased the tower crew turn-over times by 50 percent. In addition, she expedited the launches of 120 Operation Unified Response aircraft, which contributed to a 95 percent reliability rate and the delivery of 55,000 pounds of supplies to Haiti.

Outside of the tower, Sergeant McDade is Pope's Rising 6 president and is currently persuing her bachelor's degree in Aeronautical Science.

Sergeant McDade enlisted into the Air Force in July 2003. Her first duty station was Cannon Air Force Base, N.M., where she was a Radar Approach Controller. She arrived at Pope in February 2008. From January 2009 to July 2009, Sergeant McDade served at Joint Air Base Balad in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Sergeant McDade's hobbies include spending quality time with her family, cooking and competitive running.
She is married to Staff Sgt. James McDade, 66th Air Operations Squadron. They have two children: Braeden, 5 and Breanna, 2.