MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. -- The 42d Air Base Wing’s Crusader of the Month award highlights outstanding members who contribute significant effort toward Team Maxwell’s mission, vision and priorities. For the month of May, U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Ian Stembridge, 42d ABW chapel readiness non-commissioned officer in charge, has been named Crusader of the Month.
Stembridge advances Religious Support Team (RST) capabilities across Maxwell AFB and Gunter Annex, his leadership supporting more than 43,000 service members, families and students. This includes mission partners such as Air University and the Holm Center, delivering uninterrupted spiritual care during peacetime and crisis operations.
“At Maxwell, my role aligns directly with the commander’s number one priority: taking care of people,” said Stembridge. “Through unit engagement, leadership advisement and crisis intervention counseling, I ensure the spiritual well-being of our warfighters.”
Stembridge’s journey into the Air Force was driven by a desire to carry on a family legacy of military service, his father a combat cameraman during the Gulf War, and his grandfather a submariner during the Korean War. Those family ties instilled a profound respect for service and sacrifice in Stembridge, that sense of duty reinforced when he joined Civil Air Patrol in 2012.
“Through leadership schools, training roles, and search and rescue experiences, I gained a deeper appreciation for the Air Force’s standards, customs and courtesies, and I knew I wanted to be a part of something bigger,” he said.
Originally from Waynesboro, Georgia, Stembridge joined the Air Force in 2018, and joined Team Maxwell in December of 2023. Since arriving, he has made a big impact on mission readiness and ensuring chaplain corps personnel across Maxwell-Gunter are mission-ready, particularly in the context of near-peer conflict.
“My focus is on sustaining mission resilience and ensuring our Airmen have the support they need to navigate both daily challenges and critical operations,” said Stembridge. “Religious Affairs has given me incredible opportunities, but nothing compares to the privilege of caring for people. Whether it’s supporting someone through their hardest day, celebrating their successes, or simply being present in the moment, my goal is to uplift and serve.”
Stembridge co-led Maxwell’s recent Clergy Day, an Air Force-wide Chief of Chaplains initiative hosted by base chapels to bring together local faith leaders and base chaplains in a spirit of partnership, education and unity. The event served as a bridge between the military and local spiritual communities, creating space for dialogue, collaboration and a shared understanding of how to best support Airmen, Guardians and their families.
Stembridge’s efforts strengthened community partnerships by expanding spiritual force multipliers across the River Region, enhancing mission assurance and building a unified front in support of service members and their families.
“He’s a very caring leader,” said Maj. Christopher DeLuise, 42d ABW deputy wing chaplain. “When you have someone who is committed to the organization and who’s willing to learn and develop, that makes a great recipe for success. He does a great job building the well-being of the team but also impacting Airmen and Guardians in a healthy, positive and successful way.”
Whether it’s leading briefings on chaplain corps resources, welcoming home deployers, or standing alongside a unit during challenging times, Stembridge’s mission is clear: providing unwavering support. His endeavors exemplify the spirit of the Crusader of the Month.
The Crusader the Month carries deep historical significance within the 42d ABW. During their deployment on the Free French Island of New Caledonia in 1943, the Airmen of the 42nd Bomb Group were honored with the nickname “Crusaders” by their French allies, proudly adopting the Cross of Lorraine symbol on their B-25 Bombers. This legacy continues through the 42d ABW.