Prior-enlisted Airman returns to England as KC-135 pilot

ROYAL AIR FORCE MILDENHALL, England – During an earlier assignment in England, an Airman often spent his evenings running along paths near RAF Mildenhall. Seeing the aircraft take off nearby gave him a runner’s high. Years later, from a very different view, he now sees those same paths from the cockpit of a KC-135 Stratotanker during landings at the base.

U.S. Air Force 1st Lt. Ulysses Campos, a pilot assigned to the 351st Air Refueling Squadron, made the transition from an enlisted ultrasound technician to a commissioned officer and KC-135 pilot after 14 years of enlisted service.

Campos’ willingness to step into unfamiliar roles began before his Air Force career. After being scouted for competitive soccer at age 9, he pursued developmental opportunities as a teenager across the United States, Brazil and El Salvador.

“Overall, this experience set me up for my eventual enlistment into the military and the lifestyle of moving around while staying emotionally steady,” Campos said.

During his first year of college, Campos felt stuck and began searching for direction. He turned to his uncle, retired U.S. Air Force Senior Master Sgt. Francisco Campos, and asked for help joining the Air Force.

His uncle gave him a challenge to be at his house in 48 hours if he was serious about joining.

Campos traveled from Los Angeles to his uncle’s home near Buckley Air Force Base, Colorado, and arrived within the deadline. He enlisted in the Air Force in 2008 at age 20 as a diagnostic imaging technologist.

After two years in diagnostic imaging, Campos felt confident in his work and began looking for another challenge. As a senior Airman, he applied for and was selected to train in medical sonography, a field that required technical proficiency and the trust of the radiologists with whom he worked. He remained in that specialty for more than 12 years.

After seven years enlisted, Campos was assigned to the 48th Medical Group at RAF Lakenheath. During that assignment, he met his wife Gloria in 2015, beginning another major part of his life in England.

Between assignments in England, Campos was stationed at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, in 2016. One evening, while he and Gloria were on one of their regular walks, they began discussing their future and goals. She asked what job would leave him feeling both fulfilled and excited. Campos told her he would love to fly.

At the time, becoming a weapon systems officer appealed to him. The idea of flying eventually became a defined goal after he was selected for the Rated Preparatory Program, where he gained flying experience with the Civil Air Patrol.

After his first flight, he called Gloria. “I want to be a pilot,” he told her.

The road from enlisted Airman to officer became a five-year journey. Campos completed his schooling and testing while maintaining his performance as a medical technician to strengthen his commissioning package.

He also needed an age waiver to enter pilot training. The waiver required six signatures and endorsement from his major command, and a nonconcurrence at any level could have ended the process.

“There was a lot of support from my leadership,” Campos said. He credited that support, along with his service record, with helping the waiver move through each level of approval.

After 14 years of enlisted service, Campos earned his commission and entered pilot training. The experience required him to balance studying and flying with time for his wife and two sons.

“Having my family present was crucial,” Campos said. “There were times when things felt hard, but coming home to my wife and kids alleviated so much pressure.”

Years of work brought Campos back to England in May 2025 for his first assignment as a pilot. Although the location was familiar, his place within it had completely changed.

Campos entered the pilot community with 14 years of enlisted experience. He said that experience taught him that leadership does not depend on position and helped him understand the responsibility each aircrew member carries.

“I see the crew as a triangle built of three components: trust, competence and communication,” Campos said. He said strengthening those components allows the aircrew to execute its mission more effectively.

U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Nance F. Pea Jr., a 382nd Training Squadron diagnostic medical sonography course director, worked with Campos in the 88th Diagnostics and Therapeutics Squadron at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, from 2010 to 2011.

Campos later helped Pea enter medical sonography while Pea was a senior Airman.

“His rank may have changed, but I know that the type of leader he is won’t,” Pea said. “He’ll continue to develop, challenge and make everyone around him better.”

Campos’ return to England represented more than another assignment. It marked his third time stationed in the country and brought together several of the most important moments in his life.

He met his wife here, both of his sons were born here, and he earned the ranks of staff sergeant and technical sergeant here. He was also selected for Officer Training School while stationed in England.

“England is a big and important part of my story,” Campos said. “To come back as a pilot is truly the full-circle moment.”

Now approaching 18 years in service, Campos plans to continue serving until he reaches 30 years.

“There is nothing to lose in dreaming big and everything to gain in the pursuit of those dreams,” Campos said. “It’s never too late. I made a huge career change after 14 years of service, and every bit of that effort has been worth it.”

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