Leonard Thurman III

Flew over 900 hours in support of operations for PATRON EIGHT, the Fighting Tigers in support of various training exercise during home cycle and three operational deployments to the 7th Fleet Area of Operation.

Served four months special duty as a Battle Watch Captain for the 4th Fleet Area of Operations acting as a proxy authority for the Commander during the assigned watch shift.

Stood in various roles responsibilities including Key Management Infrastructure Custodian, Avionics Branch Officer, Schedules Officer, Aircrew Division Officer and Administration Division Officer.

Provided job designated maintenance on the MQ4-C for Unmanned Patron Squadron ONE NINE, Big Red.

Qualified in less than half the time proscribed for critical qualifications.

Selected for Officer candidate School as a Naval Flight Officer in December 2019 and departed in May 2020.

Served as a Staff Instructor teaching Ballroom Dance to a full diversity of students with a variety of goals of their own.

Built a full time schedule from scratch within a year of my time teaching at Colorado Dancesport.

Maintained a competitive career competing at many venues to include the Colorado Star Ball, Colorado Country Classic, New Mexico Dance Fiesta, and the San Diego Tango Festival

Upon graduation from New Mexico State University, built my own business and brand teaching a variety of students meeting their own dance goals.

Built Las Cruces's Salsa Dance community spearheading a reoccurring popular Salsa Night at Amaro Winery which is still an ongoing event to this day.

Served on the Board of Las Cruces's Biggest Community Event "SalsaFest" and made Salsa Dancing an integral part of the event alongside the Signature Salsa Making competition.

Forged a close knit bond to the El Paso, TX and Alburquerque, NM Salsa Dancing community to facilitate growth and cooperation in order to increase the popularity and accessibility to the public.

Started and directed "La Pandilla Feliz" a Casino Rueda Dance Team that performed around the community and at regional Salsa Congresses including the Alburquerque Latin Dance Festival and the Denver Salsa Congress (now CALDAC).