Airlifter of the Week: 786th CES, EOD Operations NCOIC

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Ariel Leighty
  • 86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany --  A 786th Civil Engineer Squadron non-commissioned officer received the honor of being Ramstein’s Airlifter of the Week Dec. 20, 2018.

The 86th Airlift Wing commander and command chief lauded Staff Sgt. Ricardo B. Porto, 86th CES explosive ordnance disposal NCOIC for his excellence in executing the Air Force’s mission across the European theater of operation.

Porto, a Puerto Rico native, is credited with working with the Department of State for Albanian and Kosovan Humanitarian Mine Actions missions. Porto led a five-man team through six weeks of instruction, executing EUCOM’s first-ever level-two course, certifying 23 students from both partner nations. His team’s professional instruction was recognized by the Albanian Ministry of Defense.

Additionally, Porto was handpicked to attend the Overseas Humanitarian Disaster Assistance and Civic Aid Conference in Batumi, Georgia, as Ramstein’ s EOD representative to EUCOM.
Porto expressed gratitude to his teammates; Tech. Sgt. Aaron Carroll, Staff Sgts. Fernando Aguilera and Geoffrey Hagle, and Senior Airman Gregg Donley.

“I’m blessed to have been able to be a part of the missions and to be a part of this team,” said Porto. “We jumped right into the course and it really showed what an amazing team we could be when we come together.”

The Airlifter of the Week program recognizes Ramstein Airmen who, through hard work and dedication, make the 86th AW the World’s Best Wing.