News United States Air Force
 Beale AFB Airmen launch ACC minority outreach initiativePublished Feb. 10, 2023
                        
                        By Staff Sgt. Shaei Rodriguez
                        
                        
                        9th Reconnaissance Wing Public Affairs
                **BEALE AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. (AFNS) --**
                In 1929, **Lt. Gen. Elwood R. Quesada** set a sustained inflight refueling record by flying six continuous days over Los Angeles. Today, Quesada’s trailblazing legacy inspires **Beale Air Force Base** Airmen as they introduce students from underrepresented communities to STEM and pilot careers within the Air Force.
On Feb. 3, eight Beale AFB Airmen from various career fields visited Anna McKenney Intermediate School in Marysville, as **Project Quesada**’s first event.
“Project Quesada is an **Air Combat Command** initiative where the Air Force is reaching out to minority serving institutions and including them in our new **diversity and inclusion** program, while also reaching out toward younger groups of junior high, high school, and college age students that may not necessarily have thought that something like becoming a pilot was even an option,” said Lt. Col. Eric Antonietti, 9th Operations Support Squadron director of staff.

Anna McKenney students received a hands-on demonstration of the **U-2** Dragon Lady space suit, a Q&A session from first term and career Airmen, and an opportunity to try the tubed food unique to U-2 pilots.U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Lauri Manuel, 9th Physiological Support Squadron NCO in charge of U-2 operations, squeezes chocolate pudding flavored tube food for a student Feb. 3, 2023, at Anna McKinney Intermediate School, Marysville, Calif.Staff Sgt. Lauri Manuel, 9th Physiological Support Squadron noncommissioned officer in charge of U-2 operations, squeezes chocolate pudding-flavored tube food for a student Feb. 3, 2023, at Anna McKinney Intermediate School, Marysville, Calif. Chocolate pudding is one of many flavors of tube food offered to U-2 pilots to eat during flight. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Juliana Londono)
            
            
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“We learned about how pilots can use the bathroom in space and the foods they eat,” said Joshua, an eighth-grade student. So, when I heard that, it was really shocking for me.”
During each presentation, the Project Quesada team tied Air Force operations with the students’ daily lesson. A sixth-grade class’s diagram of Earth’s layers became a springboard for Antonietti to illustrate the difference between a mile and a nautical mile. While drawing on the diagram, he explained how nautical miles are important when navigating flights.

Although in its early stages, Antonietti plans to host events under the Project Quesada umbrella at Beale AFB to increase the capabilities of the presentation and the number of students they can reach at a time.
“This is a small steppingstone for future projects,” Antonietti said. “We’re applying for funding and trying to get virtual reality goggles that are used at pilot training bases. We’re also trying to bring students like **Civil Air Patrol**, **JROTC** units, and underrepresented high school students to Beale Air Force Base.”U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Jeffrey Grant, 9th Physiological Support Squadron NCO in charge of U-2 operations, briefs 8th grade students Feb. 3, 2023, at Anna McKinney Intermediate School, Marysville, Calif.Tech. Sgt. Jeffrey Grant, 9th Physiological Support Squadron noncommissioned officer in charge of U-2 operations, briefs eighth-grade students Feb. 3, 2023, at Anna McKinney Intermediate School, Marysville, Calif. Grant along with other Airmen from Beale Air Force Base, Calif., visited the school as part of Project Quesada, an initiative to reach more minority students for pilot and STEM career field opportunities within the U.S. Air Force. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Juliana Londono)
            
            
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    A student raises his hand during a career day event Feb. 3, 2023, at Anna McKinney Intermediate School, Marysville, Calif.A student raises his hand during a career-day event Feb. 3, 2023, at Anna McKinney Intermediate School, Marysville, Calif. Students participated in a Q&A session with Beale Air Force Base Airmen at the end of the career presentations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Juliana Londono)
            
            
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    U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Jeffrey Grant, 9th Physiological Support Squadron NCO in charge of U-2 operations, presents the U-2 Dragon Lady full pressure suit to 8th grade students, Feb. 3, 2023, at Anna McKinney Intermediate School, Marysville, Calif.Tech. Sgt. Jeffrey Grant, 9th Physiological Support Squadron noncommissioned officer in charge of U-2 operations, presents the U-2 Dragon Lady full pressure suit to eighth-grade students, Feb. 3, 2023, at Anna McKinney Intermediate School, Marysville, Calif. The 9th PSPTS Airmen brought a full pressure suit, including the helmet, to educate students on the suit’s capabilities. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Juliana Londono)
            
            
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Project Quesada is committed to ensuring any student who dreams of becoming an Airman or pilot has support, regardless of their background.
“Before, I was thinking about the **Navy** because my grandma’s brother was in the Navy, but this presentation really showed me there’s another fun and cool branch,” Joshua said.FS 



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