[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 55 (Tuesday, March 24, 2026)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E256]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    RECOGNIZING CHIEF MASTER SERGEANT SELECT RICHELLE MONIQUE CALVO 
                               ESPERANZA

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JAMES C. MOYLAN

                                of guam

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 24, 2026

  Mr. MOYLAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with great pride to recognize a 
distinguished service member, a proven leader, and a proud daughter of 
Guam--Richelle Monique Calvo Esperanza--on the occasion of her 
promotion to Chief Master Sergeant in the United States Air Force. This 
selection represents one of the highest achievements within the 
enlisted force. It is a distinction earned by a select few--those who 
have demonstrated not only technical expertise, but sustained 
leadership, integrity, and the trust of those they serve alongside.
  Chief Master Sergeant Esperanza currently serves as the Senior 
Enlisted Leader for the 71st Force Support Squadron at Vance Air Force 
Base, Oklahoma. In this role, she leads a team of over 140 personnel--
military, civilian, and contractors--supporting more than 7,000 Airmen 
and their families while managing millions of dollars in resources 
critical to mission readiness.
  Her responsibilities span everything from personnel and family 
support to education, readiness, and casualty services--work that 
directly impacts the strength and resilience of our force.
  But beyond the scope of her responsibilities is the journey that 
brought her here. Chief Master Sergeant Select Esperanza hails from 
Santa Rita, Guam. After graduating from Guam High School in 2007, she 
made the decision to serve--enlisting in the United States Air Force in 
April 2008.
  Over the past 18 years of service and counting, she has built a 
career marked by steady progression, increasing responsibility, and 
operational excellence. She has served at the squadron, group, and wing 
levels. She has deployed in support of Operations New Dawn, Inherent 
Resolve, and Spartan Shield, contributing directly to U.S. military 
operations abroad. She has also distinguished herself academically--
earning both a bachelor's and master's degree in management while 
completing the Air Force's most rigorous professional military 
education programs. Her record reflects not just competence, but 
excellence--recognized through numerous awards, including Senior Non-
Commissioned Officer of the Year honors and a distinguished graduate 
distinctions throughout her career. But what makes this moment 
especially meaningful is what she represents.
  For Guam, a small island with a deep tradition of military service, 
leaders like Chief Master Sergeant Select Esperanza are a source of 
immense pride. She represents the values we hold close: service, 
humility, resilience, and a commitment to something greater than 
oneself. She represents the generations of families in Guam who have 
answered the call to serve. And she represents what is possible when 
talent, discipline, and opportunity come together. She is also grounded 
in family. She is married to Second Lieutenant Emery Esperanza, himself 
a prior enlisted Airman who recently earned his commission. Together, 
they are raising two children, Emelia and Emery, continuing a legacy of 
service and leadership. She is the daughter of Ricardo and Carmelita 
Calvo of Santa Rita, whose pride today is shared by the entire island 
of Guam.
  Mr. Speaker, at a time when our Nation depends on strong, capable 
leadership within our Armed Forces, the promotion of leaders like Chief 
Master Sergeant Select Esperanza sends a clear message--that excellence 
is honored, and that leadership matters. Her journey, from Guam to the 
highest enlisted rank in the Air Force, is not just a personal 
achievement. It is a reflection of the strength of our communities and 
the enduring contributions of Guam to the defense of our Nation.
  I congratulate Chief Master Sergeant Select Richelle Monique Calvo 
Esperanza on this extraordinary milestone. We thank her for her 
service, we honor her leadership, and we do so with immense pride as 
she continues to represent Guam and our Nation with distinction in the 
years ahead.

                          ____________________