Zulma L. Novoa

Master Sergeant (MSgt.) Zulma L. Novoa is a United States Air Force Health Service Management Craftsman, currently serving with the 514th Aerospace Medicine Squadron, 514th Air Mobility Wing, Joint Base McGuire, Dix, Lakehurst, New Jersey.

MSgt. Novoa enlisted in the United States Air Force Reserve in 2001 and completed basic training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas.

After basic, Airman Novoa completed her Health Services Management Craftsman training at Sheppard Air Force Base, Wichita Falls, Texas, where she was handpicked by her Non-Commissioned Offi cer in Charge (NCIOC) to serve as a “Green Rope Mentor” for her fellow students. She graduated from technical school with the rank of Senior Airman. Shortly after returning from tech school, and immediately following the events of September 11, Novoa was called up for active duty and served stateside for eight months.

MSgt. Novoa was deployed to Central Command Balad, Iraq in 2010 with the 332nd Expeditionary Medical Group (Tuskegee Airmen). As NCIOC of Command and Control, she led mission operations for Operation Iraqi Freedom’s busiest Contingency Air Staging Facility, providing aero medical evacuation missions of over 3.8 thousand wounded warrior patients - movements key to a 98 percent US survival rate. During this deployment, she was coined by the US Army Commanding General and awarded the Air Force Commendation Medal for her distinguished accomplishments.

In 2012, MSgt. Novoa deployed to the Pacifi c Command for Operation Tropic Care, a Joint Services Humanitarian mission conducting health services support to more than 10,000 patients in the local community.

MSgt. Novoa’s distinguished accomplishments include: NCO of the Quarter and NCO of the Year for the 514th Air Mobility Wing; Air Force Commendation Medal; Air Force Achievement Medal with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster; National Defense Service Medal; and the Iraq Campaign Medal.