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Samoan woman attains rank of Chief Master Sergeant in US Air Force

Loretta V. Washington
reporters@samoanews.com

Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, ARIZONA — Loretta V. Washington has reached the pinnacle of her career as an enlisted member of the United States Air Force. She was recently promoted to the rank of Chief Master Sergeant (E-9).

Loretta is the daughter of Rev. Matamua Ulufotu Fraser of Salelologa, Savaii; Satitoa, Falelatai, Samoa; and Laulii, American Samoa. Her mother Elisapeta Tuiala Apulu is from Faleasi’u, Samoa; and Fa’aala Palauli, Sa’asa’ai, Savaii.

Loretta holds her father’s chiefly title, Matamua, from Salelologa, Savaii. She is married to Senior Master Sergeant Mark Washington, and they have three children: Tyson, Mason, and Makaylah.

The newly promoted Chief Master Sergeant was born and raised in Otara, Auckland, New Zealand until she and her family migrated to Waianae, Hawaii where she graduated from Radford HS in Honolulu as part of the Class of 1994.

A year later in 1995 she enlisted in the United States Air Force as a healthcare management craftsman. She earned her master’s degree in public administration from Troy University, Alabama and has deployed overseas for Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation New Dawn, and humanitarian missions throughout the Pacific region.

Throughout her career, Loretta has been assigned to numerous bases all over the globe: California, New Mexico, Japan, England, Hawaii, and South Korea. Today, she proudly serves as the 355th Medical Support Squadron Superintendent for the men and women at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Arizona.

In her own words: “I am proud to represent my father as Matamua Loretta of Salelologa, Savaii and I am honored to represent Samoa as a Chief Master Sergeant in the United States Air Force!”

Thank you for your service!