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EC officer inducted into local high school's 'hall of fame'

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Zachary Wilson
  • U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center
JOINT BASE McGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. --  A 422nd Joint Tactics Squadron "Spartan" was honored by induction into his New Jersey high school's hall of fame June 24 in Plainfield, N.J.

Capt. Sean Hoggs, the 422nd JTS's Air Expeditionary Group Staff Course director and Plainfield High School class of 1986 graduate joinedseveral other alumni selected for induction June 24 at sold-out luncheon in his hometown in northern New Jersey.
"I am truly humbled," the 22-year major-select said. "I look at some of the other people who have been inducted in the past, and there are some real significant Americans on that list."

Captain Hoggs joins a selective club of fewer than 100 Plainfield graduates inducted into the school's hall of fame in its nearly 150 years of existence. Notable honorees include U.S. and New Jersey State congressmen, innovators in business, science, broadcasting and journalism as well as notable professional athletes and coaches.

Captain Hoggs was nominated due to a long and distinguished record of public service and professional accomplishment. Amongst his many accolades, he has been recognized by the U.S. Jaycees club as a 2007 10 Outstanding Young American, an Oxford University guest lecturer, Presidential Who's Who Amongst Business and Professional Achievers as well as numerous military awards including being named the 816th Contingency Response Group company grade officer of the year in 2006, the Team McGuire Air Force Base NCO of the year in 2000 and the Pacific Air Force Commanders Logistics Support Professional of the Year in 1997.

According to Captain Hoggs, his biggest impact is made through his efforts to mentor and aid disadvantaged young people through his involvement in various organizations as well as his own personal efforts. He noted that the important thing to keep in mind when working with young people who come from difficulty backgrounds is they judge a person's actions just as much, if not more, than their words.

"I was them when I was their age and once they see that, it really makes an impact," he said. "When these kids see someone who dealt with the same issues they are going through today and has managed to do something positive with their life, it really sinks in."

In addition to his speaking efforts, Captain Hoggs has also led efforts to collect school supplies, feed homeless people as well as giving his time to share experiences and motivation with kids at every place he has been stationed around the world.

Captain Hoggs' story from a 15-year old student living alone and supporting himself into one of a widely accomplished and recognized company grade officer and former non-commissioned officer is a lesson of perseverance, dedication and service.

"I grew up in the thick of things out on the streets," he said, noting his neighborhood has a long history of poverty and criminal activity. "I wasn't an angel by any means, but I was a good student and I knew that working hard in school would get me opportunities that I needed to escape my situation."

Captain Hoggs participated in his school's Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps program and he made a decision to join the Air Force shortly after graduating high school.

"JROTC put structure in my life and that's what I needed -- a kick in the pants," he said. "I felt that the Air Force would do the same thing for me."

After enlisting and working in base supply, he eventually found himself stationed here at the U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center, then known as the Air Mobility Warfare Center as a technical sergeant and Phoenix Readiness instructor for the 421st Combat Training Squadron. He already had his bachelor's degree from Southern Illinois University - Carbondale and was mentored by now retired Chief Master Sgt. Gary Kelly to "go on to bigger and better things because he saw that I had the ability," Captain Hoggs said.

Captain Hoggs also takes time to mentor enlisted Airmen he interacts with. He mentioned though he earned his bachelor's degree while he was enlisted, he believes the two Community College of the Air Force degrees he earned mean more to him personally and he makes sure he expresses that to all of the Airmen he mentors.

"When I first enlisted and found out about the CCAF program, I knew I wanted that degree more than anything," he said. "It really validated all of the hard work I had to put in to get to that point in my career."

As the father of four prepared the speech he gave after his induction, he was still awed by the honor he was given.

"Coming from where I did, I never would have guessed I would be here today in a million years," he said. "But the thing I'm most proud of is I'm being inducted as a humanitarian and not an athlete. We tend to put athletes on a pedestal and I am representing the common man whose hard work is being acknowledged."