Andersen Air Force Base, Guam– U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Katherine Gomez, a robotic process automation cyber operations technician assigned to the 4th Reconnaissance Squadron, was recognized as the 36th Wing’s Team Andersen Linebacker of the Week, at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, Nov. 9, 2022.

The Team Andersen Linebacker of the Week recognizes outstanding enlisted, officer, civilian and total force personnel who have had an impact on achieving Team Andersen’s mission, vision and priorities.

Since arriving at Andersen AFB in 2020, Gomez has been the lynchpin for ground communications for the 4 RS. Her excellent leadership ability has directly related to over 100 reconnaissance sorties each year resulting in approximately 50,000 intelligence images captured over a 100 million square mile area of responsibility.

Additionally, Gomez provides technical expertise in the maintenance of two Global Hawk launch and recovery elements, delivering intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities to the United States Indo-Pacific Command and a 36 nation area of responsibility. She also assists in providing information technology and peripheral support capabilities that enhance our 24/7 combat operations. Gomez supervises and mentors 12 airmen, ensuring that all members are receiving and accomplishing their required training.

“I always wanted to do something better with myself,” said Gomez. “I always thought the military was something I wanted to do.”

This past summer, Gomez was crucial in leading her section. When the cyber operations section lost all but two noncommissioned officers to the United States Space Force. Gomez took this challenge head-on, resulting in the unit not losing a single sortie due to low manning. In her free time, she used what little time she had to become a certified resilience trainer assistant, executing several events to bolster the unit’s readiness through her newly acquired skills. All her actions culminated in her being coined by the commander of the 319th Reconnaissance Wing and the Air Force Chief Information Officer. She was also awarded a squadron NCO of the Quarter award and the unit’s Information Dominance award for all her hard work and dedication.

“I do it for the Airmen,” Gomez said.

The term Linebacker is rooted deep within Team Andersen’s history. Operation Linebacker II took place on Dec. 18, 1972, and was the largest number of heavy bomber strikes launched by the U.S. Air Force since the end of World War II. During the operation, B-52s from Andersen flew round-the-clock bombing missions over North Vietnam to destroy major targets in Hanoi and Haiphong in an effort to bring the Democratic Republic of Vietnam back to negotiations.

The recipient will have the opportunity to sign a “Linebacker” football jersey that will be displayed in the Wing Headquarters building.

Way to go, Gomez!