MacDill Air Force Base

Always vigilant. Always ready.🇺🇸 Our 6th Security Forces Squadron remains ready to defend MacDill through continuous training, vigilance and rapid response. From installation security to combat arms training and maintenance, Defenders play a critical role in protecting personnel, resources and mission partners across the base.  As Defender Appreciation week comes to a close, we want to end by recognizing the professionalism and sacrifice of the men and women who stand watch 24/7 in support of the mission.  Tag your favorite Defender below. ⬇️ #DefendersAppreciationWeek #SecurityForces #MacDillAFB #DefensorFortis

You could say we are a little obsessed with our furry Defenders. We may have to bribe them a little more than our typical customers, but it's well worth it. Our MWD's put in the work every day, keeping Team MacDill pawsome! #DefenderAppreciation #SecurityForces #MacDillAFB #DefensorFortis #MWD 🎥 | SrA Monique Stober

Locked in. Dialed in. Mission ready. Our Defenders sharpened their combat skills during Combat Arms Training and Maintenance. From weapons handling to live-fire accuracy, these Airmen continuously train to remain lethal, disciplined, and ready to respond at a moment’s notice. 🇺🇸 Their commitment to readiness ensures Team MacDill stands prepared to defend the mission anytime, anywhere. #DefenderAppreciationWeek #SecurityForces #MacDillAFB #DefensorFortis #CATM

Behind every successful mission is a Defender standing watch. This week, we proudly recognize the Airmen of the 6th Security Forces Squadron for their service, sacrifice, and unwavering commitment to protecting Team MacDill. Through long hours, demanding shifts, and constant vigilance, these Defenders remain ready 24/7 to safeguard our installation, mission, and community. 🇺🇸 Their dedication does not go unnoticed. Join us in thanking our Defenders for all they do by dropping a message of appreciation in the comments below. ⬇️ #DefenderAppreciationWeek #SecurityForces #MacDillAFB #DefensorFortis 🎥| SrA Monique Stober

Happy Nurse Technician Week to our service members and contractors at MacDill and Sabal Park Clinics. They are the backbone of our specialty services and sustain our ready force. Their professionalism, compassion, resilience, and dedication make a difference in every life they touch. #NurseTechnicianWeek #MilitaryMedicine #HealthcareHeroes 📸 SrA Sterling Sutton Group photo courtesy of A1C Hollie Golembieski

As we reach the end of April, help us salute the youngest members of our military family. Of course they’re resilient. Of course they’re strong, but the strength of our military children isn’t seasonal. Let’s celebrate their heart and hustle every day of the year, not just when the calendar tells us to! #MonthOfTheMilitaryChild #militarychild 🎥 | SrA Monique Stober

Eighty‑five years ago today, MacDill opened its gates to the public for the very first time. What started as the largest New Deal construction project in Tampa Bay, quickly became central to national readiness and deterrence under early leaders like Brig. Gen. Clarence Tinker. Happy Birthday, Team MacDill—85 years of #service, growth, and history🇺🇸 #AMCReady #85years

You are not alone. We are here to support.

Here’s a toast... Technical Sergeant Tyler Simmons has been posthumously promoted to the rank of Master Sergeant, effective March 12, 2026. Master Sergeant Simmons was a devoted son and friend remembered by his “sheer joy for life” that left a positive impact on every person around him. He enlisted in the United States Air Force in 2017, completing basic training at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. He finished Security Forces technical training in 2018, later serving as a defender for the 121st Air Refueling Wing at Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base, Ohio. In April 2022, Tyler became an Inflight Refueling Specialist. He then served as a Mobility Force Aviator in 2023 with the 166th Air Refueling Squadron in Columbus, Ohio. Throughout his career, Tyler served with distinction. He deployed three times in support of global operations and flew 230 combat hours in the KC‑135R. His adaptability and energetic presence made him a trusted teammate and a respected Airman. We will never forget Tyler’s infectious joy and loyalty to his friends, family and fellow Airmen. #zeus95

Here’s a toast... Technical Sergeant Ashley Pruitt was a loving wife and caring mother who embraced her military brothers and sisters as family. She enlisted in the United States Air Force in 2017. In February 2018, Ashley completed her Career Enlisted Aviator training while at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. She went on to finish her Initial Boom Operator course in 2021 while assigned to the 50th Air Refueling Squadron at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida. Ashley excelled in every role she held. Her diligence and skill led her to serve as a KC‑135 Evaluator Boom Operator with the 54th Air Refueling Squadron at Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma. In 2024, she became the assistant flight chief of operations at the 99th Air Refueling Squadron, out of Sumpter Smith Joint National Guard Base in Birmingham, Alabama. Over the course of eight years, she deployed four times and flew 888 flight hours in the KC‑135R. Those who knew Ashley remember her resilience in the face of hardship and a smile that “warmed the world.” We will never forget Ashley’s steadfast resolve and devotion to her family. #zeus95

Here’s a toast... Captain Curtis “Rabbit” Angst was a compassionate husband, friend and son. He graduated from the University of Cincinnati with a bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering in 2004. He later enlisted in the Ohio Air National Guard in 2015, where he became a maintenance technician in the 123rd Air Control Squadron. Curtis commissioned six years later and served with the 166th Air Refueling Squadron under the 121st Air Refueling Wing. In 2022, Curtis attended undergraduate pilot training, followed by the KC-135R Initial Qualification in 2024. His selfless dedication to country and mission fueled the way he served his teammates and family. He deployed twice, once while enlisted and once commissioned. He flew the KC-135R, T-6 and T-1 aircraft for a total of 880 flight hours. Curtis’s friends and family admired his “steady kindness” and remarkable gift to make people feel “valued and part of something bigger.” We will never forget Curtis’s loyalty to his family and unit. #zeus95

Here’s a toast... Captain Ariana G. Savino has been posthumously promoted to the rank of Major, effective January 23, 2026. Major Savino was a passionate mentor whose friends highlighted her “energy” and “grit” in doing the work she loved. She was a cherished daughter, sibling, and dog-mom of two. Ariana commissioned into the United States Air Force in 2017 through the Reserve Officer Training Corps at Central Washington University, Washington. She completed training as a Combat Systems Officer in 2020, and later served at Robins Air Force Base, Georgia. Ariana was a trailblazer who pursued every goal with unwavering determination. In 2025, she returned to training and earned her wings as a KC-135 pilot at Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi. She deployed twice and supported three separate operations during her time as both a Combat Systems Officer and a KC-135 pilot. Ariana was known as a fervent role model with a “ruthless commitment” to the next generation. We will never forget Ariana’s courage and commitment. #zeus95