MARTINSBURG, W.Va. -- Airman 1st Class Victoria Gossard has served in the 167th Airlift Wing for two and a half years. She has an associate degree in cybersecurity from Hagerstown Community College and she is currently working towards a bachelor’s in intelligence studies with a concentration in analysis from American Military University.
Gossard earned her associate degree in May 2016, one month before she received her high school diploma.
“After receiving my degree from AMU, I would like to pursue a career with a three-letter agency in the DC area supporting intelligence analysis in regards to homeland security or international affairs,” Gossard said.
As an all-source intelligence analyst for the 167th Operations Group she is continually gathering and evaluating information from a variety of sources to assess threats to aircrew safety. The information she presents must be timely, relevant, and accurate in order to successfully support the demanding mission of the C-17, she said.
After completing basic training, Gossard assisted with the 167th AW student flight program for nine months while she waited to attend her technical training.
“I rewrote training material, updated administrative material, instructed classes, and maintained adherence to strict schedules on drill weekends,” Gossard said.
1st Lt. Rod Toms, an intelligence officer for the 167th, said Gossard will be a good example for younger Airmen who are looking for someone to emulate.
"A1C Gossard consistently displays initiative as well as the ability to look ahead and address pitfalls before they appear. She is always looking for additional ways she can contribute to moving the section forward and accomplishing the Intel section’s mission,” Toms said.
Gossard said she is proudest of her family’s long military legacy. Including herself, seven members of her family have 142 years of combined service to the 167th Airlift Wing. She is currently serving with her mother, father and cousin. Every generation in her family has military service dating back to the Civil War. Her great, great, great grandfather, Samuel L. Frush served in the Union Army 1st Infantry Regiment for the entire war and even fought at Gettysburg, she said.
In her free time she enjoys hiking local trails with her fiancé and two dogs and reading fiction novels.