Skip to main content (Press Enter).
 News
    
        Photos

    Week in Photos

    Air Force TV

    Commentaries

    Features

    Art

    About Us
    
        Air Force Senior Leaders
    
        SECAF

    CSAF

    CMSAF

    Biographies

    Fact Sheets

    SECAF Reading List

    CSAF Leadership Library
    
        CSAF Leadership Library 2022

    CSAF Leadership Library 2021

    CSAF Reading List Pre-2020 Archive
    
        2018 CSAF Reading List

    2017 CSAF Reading List

    2016 CSAF Reading List

    CSAF Leadership Library 2023

    CMSAF Leadership Library

    50 Years of the CMSAF

    Adjunct Professors

    Air Force Strategic Documents

    Arctic Strategy

    Empowered Airmen

    State Licensure Portability

    Careers

    AF Federal Advisory Committees

    AF 75th Anniversary

    Policy Updates

    AF Content Management

    Contact Us

    AF Sites
    
        Site RegistrationU.S. Air Force LogoAir Force

        Policy UpdatesNewsroomReoptimizationBIOGRAPHIESAF Senior Leaders      Tech. Sgt. Ashley-Marie Umstead stands with therapy dog Sato, a 5-year-old Belgian Malinois. Sato is a retired military working dog now serving as a therapy dog at the U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo. He previously served as a bomb dog for the 10th Security Forces Squadron.  (U.S. Air Force photo/Amber Baillie)Tech. Sgt. Ashley-Marie Umstead stands with therapy dog Sato, a 5-year-old Belgian Malinois. Sato is a retired military working dog now serving as a therapy dog at the U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo. He previously served as a bomb dog for the 10th Security Forces Squadron.  (U.S. Air Force photo/Amber Baillie)
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res
        


        Sato, a 5-year-old Belgian Malinois, is a retired military working dog now serving as a therapy dog at the U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo. He previously served as a bomb dog for the 10th Security Forces Squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo/Amber Baillie)Sato, a 5-year-old Belgian Malinois, is a retired military working dog now serving as a therapy dog at the U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo. He previously served as a bomb dog for the 10th Security Forces Squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo/Amber Baillie)
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res

Retired military working dog relieves Airmens’ stressPublished May 4, 2015
                    
                    By Amber Baillie
                    
                    
                    U.S. Air Force Academy Public Affairs
            **U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. (AFNS) --**When Tech. Sgt. Ashley-Marie Umstead adopted retired military working dog (MWD), Sato, she said the 5-year-old Belgian Malinois needed something constructive to do with his robust energy and instincts.After serving as a bomb dog for the 10th Security Forces Squadron, Umstead said she knew Airmen and wounded warriors would enjoy spending time with him because of his easy-going temperament and military experience."He was too young to stay at home without eating my couch," she said. "He has a great personality and is super affectionate so I looked into having him certified as a therapy dog."Umstead certified Sato through Therapy Dogs International. She said she hopes to connect with the Red Cross so Sato can comfort wounded warriors at Evans Army Community Hospital at Fort Carson, Colorado."I'd like him to work with wounded warriors because I can tell them he was in the military, he deployed and is now medically retired," she said. "It gives them some rapport to connect and I think it makes the relationship more special."Maj. Jose Lebron, the 10th SFS commander, said Sato has been a warrior defender his entire life."He brought the fight to the enemy as an explosive and patrol dog," he said. "Now he is engaging in a different fight, the fight to bring comfort and happiness to those in need. He performed honorably before, and now is performing even better is his new mission."Every day, Sato heads to work with Umstead, a 10th SFS flight chief. She said everyone in the squadron knows him and looks forward to seeing the 72-pound carefree canine."He's a good asset to have here every day," said Airman 1st Class Khari Berry, a 10th SFS entry controller. "He's usually happy-go-lucky and a good stress reliever after a hard day."Umstead said she receives phone calls and emails throughout the base requesting to see Sato and will bring him by when there is time in her schedule. Sato is currently an ambassador for a Colorado Springs group raising money for a War Dog Memorial in honor of all working dogs such as police K-9s, U.S. customs and border patrol dogs and search and rescue dogs."It's nice he's so friendly because he can interact a lot with the public and other dogs," Umstead said.According to Umstead, Sato has ticklish feet, loves squeaky toys and will let anyone pet him if she's there."He lightens up anybody's day," she said.Sato recently hung out with preschoolers for the first time. Umstead brought him to the child development center annex here where kids learned about Sato's service and rubbed his belly."It was his first time being around so many kids," she said. "He did really well. Maybe we'll work with them more often."When Umstead arrived here in December 2012, she began working in the MWD section and became Sato's handler. Sato served as a bomb dog, helping Umstead detect explosives and provided support for the Secret Service during one occasion. Due to a foot problem, Sato medically retired from the Air Force and Umstead took him home with her."His issue is genetic," she said. "His feet would hurt during sweeps because they didn't develop calluses and he was unable to finish."When Umstead deployed to Qatar, she said Sato was her closest companion."I was away from my 6-month-old daughter," she said. "Sato was like my counselor and best friend. I told him everything. He would sit with me and look at me like, 'I love you.'"Sometimes a peaceful companionship is all people need during difficult times, Umstead said."I enjoy seeing people forget their cares for a couple minutes when they're with Sato," she said. "Sato doesn't judge. He doesn't care what you've done or what you're going to do, he just wants to spend that moment in time with you. That's all he wants and all he has to do."military working dog 



therapy dog 



stress relief 



U.S. Air Force Academy Featured News
        Senior Leader Priorities
                DAF leaders talk budget, reoptimizing the force
                    
                    DAF leaders speak at National Character and Leadership Symposium
                    
                    DAF members recognized during BEYA STEM awards
                    
                    DAF senior enlisted advisors discuss Airmen, Guardians in the fight
                    
                    SecAF Kendall AFA Warfare Symposium Q&A: Reoptimizing for Great Power CompetitionInnovation
                AFWERX director discusses role of tech startups, quick innovation in Great Power Competition
                    
                    DAF delivers lethality at the speed of data during Project Convergence Capstone 4
                    
                    DAF welcomes industry partners to HQ development program
                    
                    DAF announces Spark Tank 2024 finalists
                    
                    Chief Digital, Artificial Intelligence Office to host hackathon in HawaiiMAJCOM News
                Safety enterprise announces new mission, vision, goals in 2024 strategic plan
                    
                    Air Combat Command welcomes new commander
                    
                    USAFE-AFAFRICA commander discusses Integrated Air, Missile Defense during Munich Security Conference
                    
                    Flosi to AFMC family: Embrace change, make every day count
                    
                    AMC rises to increasing global tension
 Quick Links
AccessibilityContact UsEqual OpportunityFOIA | Privacy | Section 508Information QualityInspector GeneralJAG Court-Martial DocketLink DisclaimerNo FEAR ActOpen GovernmentOSI Tip LinePlain LanguageQuestionsResilienceRSSSite MapVeterans Crisis LineCareers
Join the Air ForceAir Force BenefitsAir Force CareersAir Force ReserveAir National GuardCivilian ServiceConnect
            Get Social with Us
            
            Official United States Air Force Website
    Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil