JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas – Tech. Sgt. Kailey DeLage, a member of the 320th Correctional and Rehabilitation Squadron of Joint Base Lindsey Graham, South Carolina, was recently selected for the 2026 Air Force Outstanding Airmen of the Year award. The accolade is the highest enlisted honor in the Air Force, awarded to only 12 others.
“Hearing my name as one of those 12, I was shocked, it’s an incredible honor,” DeLage said. “I’m very thankful.”
DeLage serves as the Noncommissioned Officer in Charge of Clinical Services Administration at the Naval Consolidated Brig where her contributions impact service members across all military branches.
Despite working in a challenging environment, the non-commissioned officer is known to lead with a positive mindset, often encouraging others to strive for greatness.
“Anyone who works with Tech. Sgt. DeLage knows that the mission will get done because she puts 110% in everything she does,” said Master Sgt. Haley Benson, superintendent of the brig's clinical services department. “She’s created a positive atmosphere in a very difficult job environment that has impacted everyone around her for the better.”
Rather than focus on an individual victory, DeLage views the award as a reflection of the mentors and teammates who’ve helped shape her career. She attributes her success to the people around her and her own willingness to continue to grow.
“To me, the title represents much more than just the recognition of my individual accomplishments; it represents the responsibility that comes with being entrusted to lead, serve, and make a difference,” DeLage said. “More importantly, this title reinforces my commitment to the Air Force and to leaving every team better than I found it.”
As for the future, DeLage refuses to limit herself and insists on approaching her career one-day-at-a-time, staying open to wherever the Air Force takes her next.
“If you would have told me early in my career that I would have been selected for an Outstanding Airman of the Year, I would have never imagined it,” she said. “My goal is to continue to show up, learn, accept challenges, and make every opportunity I’m given the best that I can.”
The 320th Correctional and Rehabilitation Squadron is aligned under Air Force Installation Mission Support Center.