US Airman Dies in Heavy Equipment Accident at Space Force Base

A U.S. airman was killed on July 16 in a heavy equipment accident at a Space Force Base in California, sparking an investigation.

The U.S. Space Force identified Airman 1st Class Cedric Eneluna, 23, on July 17 as the service member killed at Vandenberg Space Force Base.

The Space Force said Eneluna was killed after heavy equipment he was operating rolled down an embankment.

Eneluna was a member of the 30th Civil Engineer Squadron’s Pavements and Equipment Flight.

The 30th Civil Engineer Squadron’s Pavements and Equipment Flight maintains the infrastructure that supports the Space Force base’s launch, test, and range operations.

The base has been used to launch the Atlas V, Delta IV, Pegasus, Minotaur, and Falcon 9. It also has supported the testing of intercontinental ballistic missiles.

Eneluna joined the military on March 5, 2024, before arriving at Vandenberg Space Force Base on Aug. 2, 2024, for his first duty assignment.

He was from Fayetteville, North Carolina, and spent his childhood in the Philippines, according to the Space Force.

The Space Force confirmed that no other personnel were injured in the heavy equipment accident on July 16.

It noted that units at Vandenberg were supporting a Safety Investigation Board following the incident and that additional details would not be shared until the investigation was completed.

The Space Force added that the cause of death was still being determined by the Santa Barbara Coroner’s Office.

“Our Vandenberg family is grieving alongside Cedric’s loved ones and his teammates,” Space Force Col. James T. Horne III, commander of Space Launch Delta 30 and Vandenberg Space Force Base, said.

“He made a lasting impression on his teammates through his character, dedication, and genuine care for others. On behalf of Team Vandenberg, I extend my deepest condolences to Cedric’s family, friends, and fellow Airmen during this incredibly difficult time.”

The Space Force said Eneluna served with professionalism, humility, and a commitment to both the service’s mission and his teammates.

It added that Eneluna earned respect from the personnel at Vandenberg Space Force Base through his work ethic, positive attitude, and willingness to help people.

“He brought out the best in everyone,” Air Force Lt. Col. Seth Poulsen, 30th Civil Engineer Squadron commander, said.

“He was always ready to work, always willing to help, and always had a positive attitude. He truly represented what it means to be an Airman.”

Eneluna was a member of the “Dirt Boyz,” which is a nickname given to Air Force and Space Force’s pavements and construction equipment specialists.

The Space Force said Eneluna was described by his teammates as “a positive influence who approached every challenge with determination, embraced every opportunity to serve, and made everyone around him feel welcome.”

In the July 17 announcement of the fatal accident, the Space Force noted that additional personal information regarding Eneluna was not immediately released out of respect for his family’s privacy.

Eneluna’s death came just before the deaths of four U.S. soldiers in the Middle East.

Sgt. Angel S. Rampersad, 1st Lt. Tyler James Feehan, Pvt. Isabella Gonzales, and Sgt. Michael Emmanuel Swinton were killed in action by Iranian strikes on U.S. bases.

Feehan, Gonzales, and Rampersad were killed during an Iranian attack on Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan on July 17.

Swinton died during a controlled detonation of a downed Iranian attack drone at Erbil Air Base in Iraq on July 19.

President Donald Trump attended the dignified transfer of the four fallen soldiers on July 22 at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware.