Four members of the armed forces who have served in Afghanistan and Iraq will take a whirl on the dance floor Monday night with President Obama, Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. and their wives, as part of the first dance at the Commander-in-Chief’s Ball, one of two official balls for Mr. Obama’s second inauguration.
The lucky dancers, all of them decorated with military honors, were chosen from more than 50 candidates reviewed by a selection board composed of senior leaders from the Joint Task Force-National Capital Region, which is coordinating security for the inauguration. Inaugural planners will release their names Friday morning.
They are:
Staff Sergeant Bria D. Nelson of the Air Force, who will dance with the president. Sergeant Nelson, a native of Indianapolis, enlisted on July 31, 2002, as a medical technician. She deployed to Afghanistan and was awarded the Air Force Commendation Medal. She is currently assigned to the 579th Medical Operations Squadro, Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling in Washington, where she works in family health.
Gunnery Sergeant Timothy D. Easterling of the Marines, who will dance with Michelle Obama. Sergeant Easterling, a native of Barnwell, S.C., enlisted on Aug. 21, 2000, as a chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear defense specialist. He deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan and has been awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal. He helped develop chemical and biological attack response plans for Mr. Obama’s first inauguration, and four subsequent State of the Union addresses and joint sessions of Congress, and is currently assigned to Marine Barracks in Washington as a distance learning instructor.
Staff Sgt. Keesha N. Dentino of the Army, a native of Homestead, Fla., will dance with Vice President Biden. Sergeant Dentino enlisted on July 6, 2004, as a military police officer. She deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan; her awards include! the Bronze Star Medal and four Army Commendation Medals. She is currently assigned to the 947th Military Police Detachment in Fort Myer, Va., as a patrol explosives detection dog handler and is working toward an undergraduate degree in criminal justice.
Petty Officer Patrick Figueroa of the Navy, who will dance with Jill Biden. Petty Officer Figueroa, a native of Fort Worth, enlisted on Dec. 16, 2008, as a hospital corpsman. He deployed to Afghanistan; while there, he rescued a Marine corporal who is now recuperating at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Md. Petty Officer Figueroa works as a manpower transfer clerk at the medical center. His awards include the Presidential Unit Citation and the Navy Unit Commendation.
