Staff Sergeant Jonathan Sawmiller

Staff Sergeant Jonathan Sawmiller’s journey from the poverty of a small rural town to the top of his law school class may seem unlikely, but it reflects the drive for excellence his family and the Air Force have instilled in him.

After painting houses and delivering pizza to work his way through two years of college, Jonathan enlisted in the Idaho Air National Guard, serving his country and his state as a chemical warfare specialist. He deployed twice in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, serving at air bases in Iraq and Qatar. Demonstrating the unique role of the National Guard, he also volunteered for state activation, fighting forest fires and providing communications to disaster response forces in Idaho.

When not in uniform, Jonathan continued his education, completing a Bachelor of Arts at Boise State University. Now, with a desire to continue his military service in another realm, Jonathan is entering his third year of law school at the University of Idaho. Upon graduation, he plans to use his legal education and military experience to effectively serve the Air Force and his fellow airmen as a JAG Corps officer and military attorney.