Late CWU Aviation alumna receives posthumous MLK Jr. service award

Air Force Major Ariana G. (Linse) Savino was posthumously awarded the Martin Luther King Jr. Medal of Distinguished Service last week at a King County Council meeting.

Councilmember Reagan Dunn presented the award to Savino’s parents, Darren and Omayra Linse, who received it on their daughter’s behalf.

The United States Air Force officer was killed in service on March 12 when her KC-135 crashed in Iraq during the early days of the Iran war.

“Maj. Linse Savino represented the very best of our community and our country,” Dunn said in an article published in the Courier-Herald of Enumclaw. “She dedicated her life to serving others, breaking barriers, mentoring young people, and leading with courage and humility. Ariana made the ultimate sacrifice in service to others and our nation, and we will forever honor her memory with deepest gratitude.”

The award presentation highlighted Savino’s life and career embodied the values of service, justice, mentorship, and moral courage. Raised in Covington, she carried the spirit of her community into every space she served, from the classroom to the cockpit to the communities she uplifted.

Savino’s commitment to service began early through MCJROTC at Kentwood High School and continued at Central Washington University, where she joined ROTC and earned a Bachelor of Science in Aviation Management in 2017.

She commissioned into the U.S. Air Force that year and quickly distinguished herself as a Combat Systems Officer on the E‑8C JSTARS, becoming an instructor, evaluator, and flight commander, roles earned due to her outstanding peer leadership and tactical expertise.

The Courier-Herald article pointed to Savino’s ability to connect with people. Many of her peers describe her as a mentor, a bridge‑builder, and a source of strength who brought out the best in every team she touched. She also championed diversity, empowered young women, and modeled the kind of leadership rooted in dignity, respect, and compassion.

Councilman Dunn noted that Savino lived the values Dr. King championed, service above self, courage in the face of barriers, and a relentless dedication to uplifting her community.