When Joscelyn Rachal walks into the UNLV School of Dental Medicine each morning, she brings nearly two decades of university experience and a commitment to precision shaped by her years in the U.S. Air Force.
Rachal served approximately eight years in the Air Force, beginning at Nellis Air Force Base in Las Vegas. After active duty, she joined the reserves and deployed twice overseas.
In Guam, she prepared flight orders and participated in several aerial refueling missions, giving her a firsthand look at the aviation operations she helped support. She also became scuba certified, adding an unexpected adventure to her military experience.
In Turkey, she prepared flight orders for pilots and aircrews and helped coordinate the arrival of temporary duty personnel who would relieve her unit and continue its mission. Outside her military responsibilities, Rachal explored the region's history and culture, including ancient civilizations and underground settlements.
Her service included supporting Red Flag exercises at Nellis in which where military aviators participate in advanced combat training. She also received the Air Force Achievement Medal for her Honor Guard service and was recognized as the 57th Wing Airman of the Quarter in 2004.
Looking back, Rachal sees those years as an education in much more than military operations.
"My military experiences provided so much more than professional training," she reflected. "They gave me opportunities to travel, experience different cultures, develop lifelong skills, and understand the importance of teamwork, adaptability, and accountability."
Those lessons would prove valuable in her civilian career. Today, Rachal serves as a program officer I in the Clinical Business Services Office at the UNLV School of Dental Medicine. Her responsibilities include overseeing insurance billing, auditing patient accounts for accuracy, and ensuring claims are processed correctly. Although much of her work happens behind the scenes, it plays an important role in helping patients access dental care and supporting the school's clinical operations.
After leaving the Air Force, Rachal sought a workplace that reflected the values she had developed during military service. She found that opportunity at UNLV, where she began in human resources before transitioning to business affairs at the dental school.
"I looked for a career where integrity mattered. That's when I found UNLV," she said.
The Air Force's core values of integrity, service before self, and excellence continue to guide her work. Her military experience also taught her how to remain composed under pressure. Working with patients and colleagues can sometimes involve difficult conversations, and Rachal encourages her team to respond with patience and understanding rather than frustration. She recognizes that people may be dealing with challenges that are not immediately apparent.
Over time, her approach to leadership has evolved. Military service introduced her to a highly structured chain of command, while her civilian career has reinforced the importance of flexibility, communication, and approachability.
"I want my team to feel comfortable coming to me with anything," she said.
Nearly 20 years after joining UNLV, Rachal continues to appreciate the sense of community and shared purpose she found at the university. Although her responsibilities have changed since her military days, the principles that guided her service remain central to her work.
"I'd just help more people; that's really what drives me," she said. "If others can benefit from what I've learned, that's the best reward."
For Rachal, service did not end when she took off her Air Force uniform. It continues through the care she takes with her work, the support she provides to colleagues, and her contributions to the UNLV School of Dental Medicine.
"Attention to detail, accountability, and integrity: They're not just military values. They're life values," she said.
