The top engineer in Air Force Sustainment Center is determined to demystify Air Force STEM careers, especially among groups currently underrepresented in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math fields. As one of the volunteers for the 2021 Black Engineer of the Year Awards Virtual STEM Conference Feb. 12 and 13, Alphonso Thomas, AFSC Engineering and Technical Management director, was able to reach hundreds of high school students from around the country with the message that an Air Force career in STEM offers opportunities they may not have considered before. “Most people don’t understand the spectrum of jobs we have in the Air Force, both civilian and military,” said Thomas, who participated in a recruiting event, a mentoring session, an engineering panel, and a military service awards banquet during the conference.