Do you recognize the Airman in this picture?  Chances are you’ve passed him in the hangar or line in DAL, or maybe you’ve seen him at a Local 11 Membership Meeting promoting safety.  If not, meet the younger version of Master Sergeant Dennis Tapper (USAF Reserves), who also triples as the Local 11 Safety & Standards Chairman and an Aircraft Maintenance Technician (AMT) for Southwest Airlines.

AMFA would like to welcome Dennis back from his recent tour in Afghanistan, where he was at Bagram Air Base as a part of Operation Enduring Freedom.  His role there was to support our ground troops by suppressing enemy troops or bombing high valued targets with F-16’s.  Dennis has served in various roles in the Air Force and Air Force Reserves since 1991.  He’s worked on F-16’s, F-117 Stealth Fighter’s, and C-130’s.  As an enlistee in 1991, Dennis was struck by the urgency of war as Operation Desert Storm had just begun.  He was on active duty through 1998 and continued on in the Reserves until 2004 when he determined that a break from the rigors of military service was needed.  After a much deserved seven-year hiatus, Dennis’ passion to serve our country and finish twenty years of service drew him back, and he joined the 457th Fighter Squadron as a reservist to continue his journey.

As his service has stretched through multiple wars and operations, Dennis has received many awards, medals, and commendations for which he is proud.  We at AMFA are not only proud of his service to our great Country, but also for his service to our Association.  As the Local 11 Safety & Standards Chairman, Dennis plays an integral role in the promotion of safety at his local. His responsibilities are numerous and the Association is grateful that Dennis brings the same passion and zeal to safety that he does to his military service.  We’ve also heard that his skills as an AMT at Southwest Airlines aren’t too shabby.

Again, please join AMFA in congratulating Dennis on his military service and safe arrival back from deployment.