Airman lives his American dream

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Madelyn Ottem
  • 60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. (AFNS) --  (This feature is part of the "Through Airmen's Eyes" series on AF.mil. These stories and commentaries focus on a single Airman, highlighting their Air Force story.)

The 60th Logistics Readiness Squadron fuels flight commander here is in the process of accomplishing his own definition of "the American dream."

Through hard work, perseverance and a bit of luck, Capt. George Okorodudu made his way from a poverty-stricken village in Nigeria to a commission in the U.S. Air Force.

The youngest of nine children, Okorodudu grew up in Lagos, Nigeria. Hunger was prevalent and the education system was severely undeveloped, he said.

"After 12 years of school, I did not have the ability to form words with the alphabet," Okorodudu said. "My sisters had a huge Oxford dictionary. I would wake up with it and fall asleep with it until I had learned how to form words."

When he was about 23 years old, an opportunity arose that changed his life. He applied for a U.S. visa through the National Diversity Visa Program. Though "coming to America seemed like an unreachable dream," he was one of 300 people in Nigeria selected to go through a screening process before being sent to the U.S. with green cards in 2000.

Okorodudu joined the Air Force soon after, enlisting on April 25, 2001. He said he joined the Air Force over other services because it fit with him being a strategic thinker.

"The Air Force gave me everything," Okorodudu said. "My military training has made me a better citizen. I believe the Air Force has enabled me to positively affect several lives and I am very grateful."

Though he is proud of his Air Force service, he said his proudest moment occurred two years later.

"The greatest thing that happened to me occurred, Aug. 21, 2003," he said. "That's when I received my citizenship. It was a remarkable moment."

He distinguished himself an enlisted Airman, being recognized as an Airman of the Year, earning senior airman below the zone, and being awarded the Leadership Award and John L. Levitow Award at Airman Leadership School, among many other accomplishments.

Okorodudu's tenacity and positive attitude has been a major factor in his educational success as well. He finished his bachelor's degree and was later commissioned as an Air Force officer Jan. 18, 2008. The captain, who didn't learn to read for the first 17 years of his life, also acquired his master's degree with a 3.9 grade point average in 2010. His most recent accomplishment occurred in January, when he pinned on the rank of captain.

The crime, poverty and illiteracy that threatened to hold Okorodudu back while he lived in Nigeria was no match for his sheer will and determination. Because of his background, he has been able to form an unfailingly positive perspective of the opportunities America and the Air Force have provided him.

"To me, my life has improved so greatly all because of the United States Air Force, and it has provided so many opportunities," Okorodudu said. "It's just a question of applying oneself and you can have it all."