Stories of Services
Jon O
U.S. Air National Guard Master Sgt. Jon Osterhout voluntarily accepted a high-risk, short-notice deployment to Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia, during an escalating regional crisis in 2025.
Upon arrival in the Middle East, he immediately assumed leadership of a 585-member aircraft maintenance team operating under constant threat of hostile missile fire. His decisive leadership drove 14,500 maintenance actions, enabling 2,500 combat sorties that resulted in 29 aerial victories and the use of 671 guided munitions. These operations degraded enemy capabilities, contributing to an 87% reduction in regional missile attacks.
Simultaneously, Osterhout led the flight’s Emergency Management Program, safeguarding more than 600 personnel. He directed 27 critical repairs across 13 shelters, enhancing base survivability and readiness, which proved vital during five separate missile alarms.
Beyond the fight, he dedicated personal time to strengthening the force, volunteering as an instructor for the Joint Top Three Airpower Leadership Academy and mentoring 16 NCOs in leadership, counseling and standards enforcement, directly shaping the next generation of Air Force leaders.
Master Sgt. Jon Osterhout is originally from Aurora, Colorado, and is currently stationed at Buckley Space Force Base, Colorado.
Story originally published by the USO: https://www.uso.org/stories/4093-meet-the-2026-uso-service-members-of-the-year