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Saipan native now a PA; is promoted
U.S. Air Force 1st Lt. Sidonia Williamson’s rank is pinned on by her mother, Margaret Reyes, and her husband, U.S. Air Force Technical Sgt. Warren Williamson. (Contributed Photo)
NELLIS AFB, Nevada—Second Lt. Sidonia Williamson earned her master’s degree in Physician Assistant Studies from the University of Nebraska on Feb. 2, 2017, and was promoted to the rank of first lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force.
In attendance at her promotion were her parents, Angel and Margaret Reyes of Papago, and friends and family who traveled from all over the United States such as Nebraska, Colorado, Arizona, and California.
Williamson was sworn in by her cousin, U.S. Coast Guard Lt. Christine Torres Igisomar, who is also a Saipan native.
Williamson was born and raised on Saipan. She attended Mount Carmel School for most of her school years, moving to Las Vegas to complete her senior year of high school.
She enlisted in the U.S. Air Force after high school in 2004, and served as an emergency medical technician.
She has been posted to duty stations in Florida, South Korea, Okinawa, and Maryland. She has also completed two deployments to Iraq.
With her new designation as a Physician Assistant, she and her husband, Air Force Technical Sgt. Warren Williamson, will travel to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio for their next tour of duty.
Williamson acknowledges her family and their strong island values played a large part in her success as a military officer.
“I was one of the first in my family to join the military, and I knew that if I did well, my younger relatives would see that joining the military and being successful wouldn’t be so far-fetched,” she said. “I also have great family support. My family never questioned my ambitions, so I am motivated not to let them down.”
Her cousin, Igisomar, reflects on the qualities that Williamson possesses: “Since our days at Mount Carmel School, she always struck me as a hard worker. She was never lazy; she always put her head down and put effort into everything. I admire her grit.”
“When I was young, I thought someone had to be a bona fide genius to work in the medical field,” Williamson said. “As I started my career in the Air Force, I realized that all someone has to do is work hard, and not be afraid to sweat and put in time.”
