DOWNEY — Kaylie Welch, daughter of Greg Welch and his wife Barbara Risher Welch, owners of Risher Mortuary in Downey, has been promoted to captain in the United States Air Force.

Kaylie was a scholar athlete as a national level pole vaulter and soccer player, graduating from Mater Dei High School. She then accepted an ROTC Scholarship to the University of Alabama where she was awarded the honor of top cadet. While at Alabama, Kaylie studied nursing, earning her Bachelors of Science degree and graduating Suma Cum Laude, before entering the Air Force.

Her first assignment was at Eglin Air Force Base, in Florida, where she excelled as a labor and delivery nurse earning The Air Force Commendation Medal for Meritorious Service. Kaylie now is serving abroad at the Royal Air Force Base at Lakenheath, in the United Kingdom.

In her spare time, while in England, Kaylie has enjoyed traveling to Italy, Scotland and Wales in addition to skiing the Swiss and Austrian Alps. She is looking forward to returning stateside and will be joining the United States Air Force Reserves, stationed at March Air Force Base in Riverside.

Her favorite and most important assignment when she arrives home, however, is being Auntie KK to her niece Alison and nephew William.