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Former DLT member tours with Tops in Blue

By Airman 1st Class Saphfire Cook, 355th Fighter Wing Public Affairs / Published June 08, 2012

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Joleen Dedmon, 944th Medical Squadron Luke Air Force Base, Ariz., leads the female ensemble of the 2012 Tops in Blues in a musical number at the Tucson Convention Center music hall in Tucson, Ariz., June 3, 2012. Dedmon, an Air Force reservist, works at the 355th Contracting Squadron on Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz. when not in active status. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Timothy D. Moore/Released)
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U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Joleen Dedmon, 944th Medical Squadron Luke Air Force Base, Ariz., leads the female ensemble of the 2012 Tops in Blues in a musical number at the Tucson Convention Center music hall in Tucson, Ariz., June 3, 2012. Dedmon, an Air Force reservist, works at the 355th Contracting Squadron on Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz. when not in active status. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Timothy D. Moore/Released)

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Joleen Dedmon, 944th Medical Squadron, Luke Air Force Base, Ariz., leads the 2012 Tops in Blues performers in the final number of their show at the Tucson Convention Center music hall in Tucson, Ariz., June 3, 2012. The crowd, which mostly consisted of Davis-Monthan AFB Airmen and affiliates, gave a standing ovation for Dedmon and the rest of the performers. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Timothy D. Moore/Released)
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U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Joleen Dedmon, 944th Medical Squadron, Luke Air Force Base, Ariz., leads the 2012 Tops in Blues performers in the final number of their show at the Tucson Convention Center music hall in Tucson, Ariz., June 3, 2012. The crowd, which mostly consisted of Davis-Monthan AFB Airmen and affiliates, gave a standing ovation for Dedmon and the rest of the performers. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Timothy D. Moore/Released)

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TUCSON, Ariz. -- The Air Force's premiere entertainment group, Tops in Blue, visited Tucson as part of their world-wide tour. The show features about 18 vocalists, one of which is a former member of the Desert Lightning Team.

Senior Airman Joleen Dedmon's Air Force career has been a many-faceted line of business. She began her journey as an active-duty vehicle operator in the 355th Logistics Readiness Squadron on Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz.

"I was active-duty from 2003 through 2007," Dedmon said. "When I separated, I was hired as a civilian to be the 355th Contracting Squadron commander's secretary."

Airman Dedmon worked as a civilian member of the DLT until 2011, when she decided to join the Air Force Reserves. As a member of the Reserves, she is stationed at Luke AFB, Glendale, Ariz.

The Tops in Blue had been in the back of Airman Dedmon's mind her whole career.

"I first saw Tops in Blue in basic training, and then again on my second deployment," Dedmon said. "I actually auditioned for them in 2005, but didn't make the cut. When I came into the reserves last year, I decided to give it another shot and see what happened."

Her decision paid off and she earned a vocalist spot on the 2012 TIB team. Returning to D-M on the first leg of the world-wide tour is a reminder to Airman Dedmon of where it all started.

"One of the things I learned working on Davis-Monthan is when to sit back and take direction, and when to step up and be a good leader," Dedmon said.

Some old co-workers from 355th CONS came out to support her performance.

"Joleen has only been gone a couple of months, but I miss hearing her singing at her desk," said Joanne Squire, 355th CONS director of business operations and former colleague of Airman Dedmon. "I have always loved her talent, but I was amazed at the growth of her stage presence. It was especially moving when she took out the show with "God Bless the USA", one of my favorite songs."

Members of the TIB team act as their own road crew, so their time while in Arizona was spent setting up the set, performing and tearing down the set before heading to the next stop on the tour.

"I wish I had more time to visit with my co-workers and friends," Dedmon said. "Plus, I really miss the great restaurants. I'd like to eat at them all tonight. But I'm excited to get this opportunity to travel the world for a year doing what I love. Then it's back to my normal routine and my favorite places to eat dinner."