A Berks County native is being recognized for his leadership and commitment to service as part of the U.S. Air Force’s 8th Fighter Wing.
Staff Sgt. Shemuel Bowman, a native of Kutztown and training manager with the 8th Operations Group, was named the 8th Fighter Wing’s “Pride of the Pack” for the week of June 2–6. The weekly recognition highlights airmen who have made significant contributions to their unit’s mission.
Bowman is responsible for overseeing training and readiness across 17 Air Force Specialty Codes within three squadrons. He recently improved compliance monitoring by identifying and implementing oversight for seven key training requirements, directly impacting 191 personnel.
As security manager for the 8th OG, Bowman managed the processing of security clearances and submitted 27 visit access requests tied to high-profile military exercises, including Red Flag – Alaska and Freedom Flag. He also handled the issuance of secure network access tokens critical to those operations.
In addition, Bowman addressed a longstanding personnel issue by helping rebuild the Department of Defense’s credentialing process for common access card sponsorships. His work supported 50 U.S. and Korean contractors and ensured operational continuity for the base.
Outside his primary responsibilities, Bowman coordinated building renovations, served in multiple support roles—including as a Weighted Airman Promotion System monitor and emergency management team member—and helped facilitate morale-building events within the squadron. He also completed four college courses, graduated from the Foundation Course Facilitator program, and led multiple sessions on sexual assault prevention and suicide awareness.
The 8th Fighter Wing praised Bowman for his “outstanding leadership and dedication” to the mission, referring to him as a key asset to the Wolf Pack team.
