My Story: Justin R. Musall

My safety story began in 2012 as an electronic warfare technician, working on a B.S. in occupational safety and health. The Air Force asked me to retrain and, excited about the possibility to match my degree and career, I accepted. I was sent to safety apprentice school, where I earned the Top Graduate Award before getting assigned to the 20th Fighter Wing Safety Office at Shaw Air Force Base in South Carolina.

There, I was provided great training and exposure to a plethora of industrial programs and management opportunities. This allowed me to gain a significant amount of experience in a short amount of time. Quickly accomplishing all required upgrade training, I was sent to safety craftsman school, where I again earned the Top Graduate Award. Mishap investigations, program assessments, facility inspections and teaching various safety courses were my primary tasks on duty – all while completing my B.S. degree off duty.

In 2014, I received orders to the 735th Air Mobility Squadron at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, HI. Here, I managed the Squadron Commanders Mishap Prevention Program, as the single point of contact for all flight, weapons and occupational safety. Through effective risk management and proactive safety practices, we were able to establish a “Safety 1st” culture, resulting in zero safety deficiencies from any external inspector/agency for an unprecedented four consecutive years. I spent a significant amount of time working with other safety offices and agencies around the installation to build relationships and mend broken programs/processes.

Additionally, I was able to start and finish my M.S. in occupational safety and health/environmental management. Our “Safety 1st” culture drove us to receive various individual and team recognition. Our unit personnel took home 22 of 26 group and Wing safety awards, two MAJCOM awards and two Air Force Safety Well Done Awards. Our squadron received the Outstanding Achievement Award for Occupational Safety, and I received additional recognition to include Air Mobility Command’s Safety Professional of the Year in 2015 and 2016, and the 2018 National Safety Council Rising Star of Safety Award.

I’m proud of my safety story thus far and look forward to my next assignment.

Justin R. Musall
Master Sgt.
U.S. Air Force Safety Superintendent, 735 Air Mobility Squadron
Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, HI