MacDill mourns the loss of three Airmen

Technical Sergeant Ashley Pruitt was an Assistant Flight Chief of Operations and KC-135 Instructor Boom Operator at the 99th Air Refueling Squadron, Sumpter Smith Joint National Guard Base, Birmingham, Alabama. In her role, she oversaw aircrew readiness, training, and flight operations while instructing boom operators on air refueling procedures to ensure safe, effective global mobility and combat airpower projection. Sergeant Pruitt entered the Air Force in May 2017 and completed Career Enlisted Aviator training in February 2018 followed by the Initial Boom Operator course in July 2021. Since then, she held a variety of aircrew leadership positions related to air refueling operations. Prior to her most recent position, Sergeant Pruitt was the non-commissioned officer in charge of readiness at the 99th Air Refueling Squadron, Sumpter Smith Joint National Guard Base, Birmingham, Alabama. Sergeant Pruitt deployed in 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2026 in support of United States Central Command Operations INHERENT RESOLVE, FREEDOM’S SENTINEL, ENDURING SENTINEL, RESOLUTE SUPPORT, and EPIC FURY, flying 888 combat flight hours.