39th CONS Airman selected as one of Air Force's Outstanding Airmen of the year

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Victoria Nuzzi
  • 39th Air Base Wing
INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Türkiye --  

When U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Sierra Mueller, 39th Contracting Squadron contracting specialist, learned she had been selected as one of the Air Force's Outstanding Airmen of the Year, her first thought wasn't about the award.

It was about the people who helped her earn it.

The annual award recognizes the Air Force's top enlisted performers for superior leadership, job performance and commitment to service, but Mueller views the honor as a reflection of the mentors, supervisors and teammates who invested in her throughout her career.

As a contracting specialist, she helps acquire services that enable the 39th Air Base Wing to sustain combat-ready forces and support U.S., Allied and partner operations across the region.

"It's still surreal," Mueller said. "My team and I made it. It really does take a village, and I couldn't be more grateful to the people who nominated me for this and helped shape me into the person I am, so I could even be considered for this award."

As one of this year's Outstanding Airmen of the Year, Mueller will serve as an ambassador for the Air Force, connecting with Airmen across the service while sharing her experiences and advocating for improvements that benefit the force. Throughout the year, the selectees engage with Airmen, senior leaders and communities across the Air Force, representing the service's highest standards of professionalism and leadership.

"I get to showcase everything the Air Force has put into me," Mueller said. "I get to share that with other people and learn about their experiences. On the other end, I get to hear what people at my rank want to see change, and I can help advocate for them."

Mueller credits many of her leadership values to her time at Kadena Air Base, Japan, where she learned the importance of mentorship, trust and working toward a common goal.

"The biggest thing they taught me was that a good mentor is definitely something you need, and a good team to have your back," Mueller said. "We worked late hours, but we did it together.”

Those experiences continue to shape Mueller's approach at Incirlik Air Base, where she said trust, accountability and collaboration remain essential to accomplishing the mission.

"Just recently, we showed great teamwork here," Mueller said. "We all stayed late and had each other's backs during a key time. I'm very big on being a team player because it takes a team to win."

Mueller's leadership said the same qualities she credits for her success are evident in the way she serves her unit every day.

"Senior Airman Mueller sets the standard for what an Airman should be," said Senior Master Sgt. Johnathan Leuellen, 39th CONS senior enlisted leader. "She's technically proficient, humble and genuinely committed to the people around her. Whether she's mentoring a teammate or tackling a challenging task, she leads by example and always puts the team and the mission first."

Leuellen said Mueller's leadership extends well beyond her technical expertise, influencing the unit's culture through the example she sets every day.

"One of the things that stands out most about Senior Airman Mueller is that she never lets rank define leadership," he said. "She understands that every Airman has a role to play in mission success, and she treats everyone with that same level of respect. She builds people up, shares her experience and creates an environment where the entire team can succeed."

Drawing on those experiences, Mueller encourages other Airmen to pursue opportunities that push them beyond their comfort zones, saying some of her greatest growth came from embracing unfamiliar challenges.

"My biggest advice is do what scares you," she said. "I had a great team and great mentors, and once it was done, it was like, 'Wow, I really did that.' Really strive for things that make you uncomfortable."

As she prepares to represent the Air Force alongside the other Outstanding Airmen of the Year, Mueller said she looks forward to listening to fellow Airmen, sharing her experiences and advocating on their behalf.

"It's a great honor that I get to showcase and be able to advocate for the team that I had and their help to get me here," Mueller said.

While the award recognizes Mueller's accomplishments, she said its greatest honor is the opportunity to give back to the Airmen who continue to shape the force, just as her mentors and teammates shaped her journey.