04/17/2008

News / The Times Record

Air Force Airman 1st Class Ryan J. Murray, son of James P. and Cathy L. Murray of Topsham and a 2007 graduate of Mt. Ararat High School, has graduated from the Air Traffic Control Operations Apprentice Course at Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi, Miss. The course is designed to train students to control enroute and terminal air traffic by use of visual, radar and non-radar means at control tower facilities. Students learn aircraft identification and to initiate and issue air traffic control clearances, instructions and advisories to ensure the safe, orderly and expeditious flow of air traffic. Murray will be assigned to the 46th Operations Support Squadron, Eglin Air Force Base in Valparaiso, Fla.

U.S. Coast Guard Academy First Class Cadet Abigail Scott Lafond of Orr’s Island recently graduated from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy. She was assigned to U.S. Coast Guard cutter Alert, homeported in Warrington, Ore., as a deck watch officer for her first tour of duty. “I love the ocean and I can’t wait to go to sea. I am looking forward to the challenges ahead of me,” said Lafond.