American Indian Heritage in the DoD

Air Force Lt. Col. Lawrence N. Yazzie is the commander of the 168th Cyber Operations Squadron, 132nd Operations Group, 132nd Wing, Des Moines Air National Guard Base, Iowa.

Yazzie was born into the family of Larry Kee Yazzie and Sunny Jean Kerchee. He is Comanche (Antelope Clan) and born in the Navajo (Bitter Water Clan). His grandmother is Meshwaki (Bear Clan). His grandfather is Navajo (Many Goats Clan). He is from Tuba City, Arizona, which is located on the Navajo Reservation.

Yazzie graduated from Window Rock High School, Fort Defiance, Arizona. He entered the U.S. Air Force Academy Class of 2000. As a recruited athlete, he played four years of Division I basketball and graduated from Cadet Squadron “Tiger” 10. Yazzie comes from a family with a long history of service. He and his brother, from the Air Force Academy Class of 2002, played basketball together. Their sister Desbah, from the Air Force Academy Class of 2011, played rugby. His father was an Army officer, his uncles were Marines with multiple tours in Vietnam and his grandfathers served several years in the Army and Navy during World War II. The United States Air Force Academy was an extension of his family’s service and compliments their warrior culture.

After graduation, Yazzie spent nearly eight years on active duty stationed at the Air Force Academy and Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado; Luke Air Force Base, Arizona. He deployed twice to Kyrgyzstan and Kuwait, supporting Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. Yazzie joined the Iowa National Guard in the summer of 2008, and he was selected for command of the 132nd Communications Flight. While serving as a drill status guardsman in the Iowa Air National Guard, he worked for Proctor & Gamble at its Iowa City Plant as a process engineer/project manager and Wells Fargo Home Mortgage as an information technology project manager. In 2015, he took command of the 168th Cyber Operations Squadron, providing defensive cyber operations capability to combatant commanders, federal and state agencies, and the unit is a Kosovo State Partner.

His professional military education includes Basic Communications Officer Training, Squadron Officer School, Air Command and Staff College, Intermediate Developmental Course, Commanders Developmental Course and Cyberspace Warfare Operations Training.

Yazzie’s decorations include the Air Force Meritorious Service Medal (with Oak Leaf Cluster), Commendation Medal (with three Oak Leaf Clusters), Achievement Medal (with Oak Leaf Cluster), Meritorious Unit Award (with Oak Leaf Cluster), Outstanding Unit Award with Valor Device (with four Oak Leaf Clusters), National Defense Service Medal, Global War On Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, Overseas Ribbon (Short), Expeditionary Service Ribbon with Gold Border (with Oak Leaf Cluster), Longevity Service (with two Oak Leaf Clusters) and Training Ribbon.

Yazzie is an outstanding leader with 17 years of experience in information technology and manufacturing for the Air Force and two Fortune 500 companies. Yazzie has two sons, ages 13 and 11, named Skyler and Sage, respectively.

Marine Corps Capt. Aaron Estenson was born and raised Phoenix, Arizona, and is of Navajo descent. He enlisted in December 1997, and underwent recruit training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, California. Upon completion, he attended the School of Infantry at Camp Pendleton, California, where he obtained the military occupational specialty 0331 machine gunner. After infantry school graduation, he was assigned to Heavy Weapons Platoon, Weapons Company, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division at Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii. During this tour and serving in the rank of sergeant, Estenson was a gunner and team leader/vehicle commander.

In October 2001, Estenson reenlisted and received orders to Range Company, Weapons and Field Training Battalion, Edson Range, Camp Pendleton, California. Here Estenson served as a range coach, assistant block noncommissioned officer, and primary marksmanship instructor. During this tour, Estenson applied for and was accepted into the Marine Corps Enlisted Commissioning Education Program. Upon acceptance, Estenson attended the MECEP Preparatory School held at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, and upon graduation, attended the University of Arizona, located in Tucson, to obtain an undergraduate degree.

Estenson attended the "bulldog" program at the Officer Candidates School, Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virgina, in the summer 2004. Estenson was promoted to staff sergeant in February 2006 during his attendance at the University of Arizona under the Marine Corps Enlisted Commissioning Education Program. Upon graduation with a Bachelor of Science in physical education degree, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in December 2006. He reported to the Basic School, Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia, and graduated with Charlie Company, Class 2-07,and was designated a signals intelligence/ground electronic warfare officer, military occupational specilaty 0206.

As a second lieutenant, Estenson checked into 1st Radio Battalion, I Marine Headquarters Group, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, California, in November 2007, where he was assigned as a platoon commander for Signals Intelligence Support Platoon. In January 2008, he attended Tactical Cryptologic Communications Course at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia, followed by the the Signals Intelligence Officer Course held at the Navy and Marine Corps Intelligence Traning Center, Dam Neck, Virginia. Next, Estenson returned to 1st Radio Battalion where he served in the following billets: battalion adjutant, Company B commander, and Company B executive officer. Also during this tour, Estenson was assigned as an individual augmentee to I Marine Expeditionary Force in their deployment to Helmand province, Afghanistan, from April 2010 to April 2011. Promptly upon his return from supporting Operation Enduring Freedom, Estenson received orders to 3d Radio Battalion, III Marines Headquarters Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force at Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii.

In June 2011, Estenson reported in to 3rd Radio Battalion operations where he received a follow-on assignment with Detachment 14, to support the Joint Special Operations Task Force – Philippines. Once Estenson returned from this deployment, he was reassigned to Radio Battalion operations. During this tour, he served in the following billets: battalion operations officer, assistant operations officer, current/future operations and plans officer, battalion plans officer, company commander, and detachment officer in charge.

In September 2014, Estenson received orders to his present assignment at Information Warfare Integration Division, Capabilities Development Directorate, Deputy Commandant Combat Development and Integration, Headquarters Marine Corps, Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia. He enrolled in off-duty education and is scheduled to graduate from Georgetown University in the Spring of 2018 with a graduate degree in sports industry management. Estenson has volunteered, as part of his graduate program, for multiple organizations to include: the Association of National Olympic Committees/United States Olympic Committee, the Georgetown Student Organization, ProCamps Worldwide, and the Marine Corps Marathon office. He is married to the former Lauren Burke of Olympia, Washington. His personal decorations include two Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals.

Marine Corps Capt. Zack A. Pinkerton is an officer instructor at the Combat Engineer Instruction Company, Marine Corps Engineer School, Training Command, Training and Education Command.

Pinkerton majored in business administration with a focus in management at the University of Oklahoma in May 2011.

Pinkerton attended Officer Candidates School during the summer of 2010 and was commissioned May 27, 2011. In October 2011, Pinkerton reported to The Basic School as a member of Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 12th Marines. Following graduation from TBS, he attended Marine Corps Engineer School as a member of Combat Engineer Officer Course 6-12. Upon his graduation from Marine Corps Engineer School, Pinkerton was assigned to 7th Engineer Support Battalion, 1st Marine Logistics Group, Camp Pendleton, California.

In May 2013, Pinkerton was assigned as the platoon commander of Second Platoon, Alpha Company, 7th Engineer Support Battalion. In August 2013, he was assigned as the improved ribbon bridge platoon commander, Bridge Company, 7th Engineer Support Battalion, and served in that capacity for 4 1/2 months. In January 2014, Pinkerton was assigned to Engineer Services Company, Combat Logistics Battalion 1, to deploy in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Pinkerton served as the combat engineer platoon commander for the deployment.

In November 2014, upon successful completion of a deployment to Afghanistan, Pinkerton returned to 7th Engineer Support Battalion where he was frocked to his current rank and assigned as the Bulk Fuel Company commander. He served in this capacity for seven months, supporting division-level exercises Steel Knight and Desert Scimitar.

In July 2015, Pinkerton transferred to the Marine Corps Engineer School where he served as the Headquarters and Service Company commander. In May 2016, Pinkerton deployed to Kuwait as an individual mobilization augmentee to serve as a Marine planner in the Future Operations Cell for the Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve. In November 2016, he returned to the Marine Corps Engineer School to assume his current role as an officer instructor, class advisor, and company executive officer of Combat Engineer Instruction Company.

Pinkerton enjoys spending time with people from his church and has hosted a Life Group in his home. Additionally, he and his wife enjoy traveling to national and state parks where he donates and contributes to the preservation of the nation's history. Pinkerton is a member of the Caddo Nation Native American Tribe from Binger, Oklahoma.

Pinkerton’s personal awards include the Joint Service Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, and Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal.

Army Command Sgt. Maj. Linda Rebecca Burkhart was born and raised in Eureka, California, and is a member of the Karuk Tribe, whose ancestral home is in Happy Camp, California. She began her military career in 1994 as a signal support systems specialist with the Idaho Army National Guard’s Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 116th Cavalry Brigade Combat Team.

From 1996-2002, she was assigned to the operations section as the senior radio operator and radio supervisor. From 2003-2005, Burkhart served as the brigade communications security custodian and deployed to Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom. From 2006-2012 she was a platoon sergeant with Bravo Company, 116th Brigade Special Troops Battalion. She volunteered for deployment to Iraq again in 2010 with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 116th Brigade Special Troops Battalion, for Operation New Dawn and worked in the Joint Visitors Bureau as the special event coordinator. From 2013-2015 Burkhart was first sergeant for the Joint Force Headquarters. In 2015 she became the first female command sergeant major in the Idaho Army National Guard.

Burkhart is qualified in multiple signal occupations and also holds an administrative occupational specialty. She completed the two year correspondence phase of the United States Army Sergeants Major Academy and is scheduled to attend the resident phase in March 2018. She has attended all required preceding noncommissioned officer courses.

She has 22 separate awards and decorations, including the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal (2nd award), the Army Commendation Medal (3rd award), the Army Achievement Medal (4th award), the Army Good Conduct Medal, the Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal (6th award), the National Defense Service Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal (2nd award), the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Humanitarian Service Medal, the Armed Forces Reserve Medal with Mobilization device, Meritorious Unit Commendation, Idaho Governors Outstanding Unit Award and the Combat Action Badge.

Burkhart is assigned as the Idaho Army National Guard’s command sergeant major for garrison command and installation support. She also serves as the state communications security and frequency manager, oversees the Gowen Field Memorial Park. She is a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and a member of the Enlisted Association of the National Guard.

Army Staff Sgt. Jason Woods was born at McClellan Air Force Base in Sacramento, California, and grew up in a dual-military household where he received a solid foundation that combined family and military values. He joined the Idaho Army National Guard in May 2009 when he decided to make a life change, and attended Initial Entry Training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, and Advanced Individual Training to become a petroleum supply specialist at Fort Lee, Virginia.

Woods was determined to succeed and excel in his career from the start. He was named soldier of the cycle during IET, and earned distinguished honor graduate in AIT. After returning to Idaho, he was attached to the Idaho Army National Guard’s Echo Company, 1st Battalion, 183rd Aviation Regiment, where he served as a petroleum, oil and lubricant handler. In March 2011 he was selected for deployment and was attached to Echo Company, 1st Battalion, 168th Aviation Regiment, and promptly promoted to specialist. Woods deployed in April 2012 to Bagram, Afghanistan, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. While performing duties of a door gunner, he was promoted to sergeant and made a team leader for the duration of the deployment.

He returned to Idaho in February 2013 and in September that year was selected for a dual-status federal technician position as an industrial hygiene technician for Idaho state. In March 2015, Woods was promoted to staff sergeant and reassigned to Echo Company, 1st Battalion 183rd Aviation Regiment, where he served as a squad leader. During a 2015 National Training Center rotation, he was appointed as the noncommissioned officer in charge of nighttime refueling operations, responsible for a team of 15 soldiers and more than 25,000 gallons of fuel. In June 2016, Woods transferred to the Idaho Medical Detachment to pursue an career as a preventive medicine specialist.

Throughout his career, Woods has fallen back upon the values instilled in him by his parents, which encompassed traditional military values, Tlingit oral history and extended family closeness. The traditional role for Tlingit men was hunting and fishing and occasionally going to war to protect their families. Woods has fully embraced the belief of having to take up arms when the need arises, which is why the National Guard makes so much sense to him.

Marine Corps Cpl. Brittany E. Chavez was born in Show Low, Arizona, and graduated high school in Mesa, Arizona, May 2015. She is a member of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe.

In July 2015, Chavez joined the Marines and was assigned as a Marine Air Ground Task Force planning specialist. During recruit training, she was meritoriously promoted to the rank of private first class and received a certificate of commendation for her performance as platoon guide. Her first and current duty station is Marine Corps Forces Pacific located at Camp H. M. Smith, Hawaii. In July 2017, she was promoted to the rank of corporal and as a noncommissioned officer is assigned as the lead MAGTF planner for nine chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff-directed exercises.

Chavez represents the Marine Corps within the joint service during exercise Cobra Gold and Balikatan planning conferences. Additionally, she serves as a liaison between U.S. Pacific Command, U.S. Army Pacific Command, U.S. Air Force Pacific, U.S. Pacific Fleet, and U.S. Special Operations Command Pacific.

Throughout her time at Marine Corps Forces Pacific, Chavez validated to Pacom a total of 3,482 joint movement requirements comprised of over 12,000 personnel and 12,000 short tons of equipment traveling to nine host countries. Her efforts enabled the procurement of numerous U.S. Transportation Command assets and the distribution of over $10 million in exercise funds.

On two separate occasions, Chavez was awarded Marine of the Quarter for her high performance and quality results. Additionally, she volunteered and became the only current Marine Corps martial arts instructor within Marine Corps Forces Pacific.

Chavez leads, inspires, and teaches five Marines within her section and ensures their overall well-being and career advancement. In her spare time, she volunteers to coach varsity women’s basketball and participates in the Toys-for-Tots program within the local community.

Air Force Senior Airman Cynthia L. Davis is a personnel specialist with the Arizona Air National Guard’s 161st Maintenance Group in Phoenix. She performs personnel actions such as updating computerized personal data, guiding customers in completing actions through virtual Military Personnel Flight, processing documents, and preparing and processing administrative actions. She advises airmen on military personnel issues and programs, ensuring compliance with personnel policies, directives and procedures. Davis serves as the unit’s point of contact for temporary duty, annual training, special training and other active-duty duties requiring special orders.

Davis graduated from Chandler High School in 2006. Afterward, she attended Mesa Community College, where she majored in web design. She enlisted as a personalist in the Arizona Air National Guard in June 2013. She arrived for military technical training in March 2014 at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi, where she graduated in June 2014. She then returned to the 161st Maintenance Group. In April 2015, she was tasked to help with the shortage of command support staff responsibilities in the unit’s operations group, allowing for the ability to continue with day-to-day operations. She ensured flight crews had their orders for multiple mission types. In September 2017, she graduated from Airman Leadership School at Edwards Air Force Base, California.

Davis currently works with the Arizona National Guard in the Human Resource Office as a human resources assistant. She provides assistance to both the Army National Guard and Air National Guard across the state of Arizona by fulfilling the staffing needs for both Technician and Active Guard Reserve positions.