KC-10 flight engineer, Staten Island native, supports deployed air refueling ops

Staff Sgt. Kaamil Coston, KC-10 Extender flight engineer with the 908th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron at a non-disclosed base in Southwest Asia, works at his station in a KC-10 Jan. 8, 2009. Sergeant Coston, deployed from the 2nd Air Refueling Squadron at McGuire Air Force Base, N.J., ensures the KC-10 is ready to fly when a mission is prepared -- essentially the "systems expert" for the airframe. The KC-10 is an Air Mobility Command advanced tanker and cargo aircraft designed to provide increased global mobility for U.S. armed forces. Although the KC-l0's primary mission is aerial refueling, it can combine the tasks of a tanker and cargo aircraft by refueling fighters and simultaneously carry the fighter support personnel and equipment on overseas deployments. Sergeant Coston's hometown is Staten Island, N.Y. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Tech. Sgt. Scott T. Sturkol/Released)