The hot, summer sun beams down on the Haiti palm trees, rays piercing between the overgrown leaves. Sweat drips down the face of the island dwellers, irritated sighs a norm for Haitians still attempting to recover from the 2010 earthquake. Opportunities being scarce and government safety nets nearly nonexistent, a young woman considers how she will take care of her younger brother. With orphanages offering children the opportunity to be adopted by overseas families, the thought comes closer and closer to the forefront of her mind “Will this give Jhovany the head start in life I can’t offer?”

This is the journey of how U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Jhovany Payne, 493rd Fighter Generation Squadron scheduler, overcame early childhood struggles to today, being selected to attend Officer Training School.

At the age of 13, Payne was adopted from a Haitian orphanage by an American family. His adoptive father, a retired A-10 Thunderbolt II pilot, became a source of inspiration for his career path moving forward.

“When I saw my dad wearing that flight suit, he looked heroic,” said Payne. “When I heard his stories about the military, it felt like more than just a job; it felt like a family. There was something urging me to become part of that team, to be part of that family.”

Once he became a member of the U.S. Air Force family, Payne aspired to be a leader like those who had been there for him throughout his life. He knew he wanted to take on a larger role within the service that had given so much to him, so the path to commissioning became his goal.

“I’m here because of great leadership,” said Payne. “I’m here because of people that poured into me, whether they were officers, enlisted, or civilian. I want to be that guiding light for other people as well, and I hope to be an inspiration for young Airmen, enlisted or commissioned.”

Payne is currently attending OTS at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, as of February 2025. After completing the nine-week course and earning the rank of 2nd Lieutenant, Payne will begin working in his new Air Force Specialty Code, 63A, Acquisitions Manager.

“My journey shaped by tragedy, resilience and gratitude fuels my unwavering dedication to the ideals of service and freedom,” said Payne. “I serve to honor those expectations to protect the freedom I now hold dear, and give back to the nation that graciously adopted me and offered me a new lease on life.”

As an acquisitions manager, Payne will be on the forefront of the defense acquisitions program, securing the technologies necessary to modernize capabilities for the warfighter. Through his hard work and the application of the leadership examples he had through his life, Payne has achieved the first step in his commissioned leadership journey.