Service Before Self: Vandenberg Airman Offers Gift of Hope with Bone Marrow Donation

Official Statements

• Space Launch Delta 30, November 10: “VANDENBERG SPACE FORCE BASE, Calif. — It costs nothing to be nice. For Staff Sgt. Julio Moreno, that simple philosophy of service to others led him to an operating table to undergo a surgery that may save the life of a complete stranger. “I’ve always been an advocate for helping people,” said Moreno. “If you can - if you're healthy enough - it costs nothing to be nice.”

• Space Launch Delta 30, November 10: “In July 2026, Moreno was on leave, gathered with family to celebrate the life of his grandfather who had recently passed away from cancer. Amid the grief of his family's loss, his phone rang. “When the people called me, they said I’d be helping someone with a cancerous condition,” Moreno said. “I already was willing to help this person.”

• Space Launch Delta 30, November 10: “Moreno’s journey to the operating table actually began a decade earlier. Immediately after completing technical training, then-Airman 1st Class Moreno arrived at Vandenberg Air Force Base, his first duty station. Walking through Breakers Dining Facility during his first month on base, he stopped at a Salute to Life table. The process was simple: a quick cheek swab and a few consent forms.”

• Space Launch Delta 30, November 10: “Unlike standard blood donations, finding a bone marrow match is an exhausting game of genetic roulette. It can take months, years, or even decades for a donor's specific Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) type to match a patient in need. Moreno’s first call didn’t come until 10 years later, in 2024. While that initial timeline ultimately did not work out, his enthusiasm to donate never wavered.”

• Space Launch Delta 30, November 10: “When the second call came in 2026, the wheels immediately began to turn. From the initial match notification to the day of the operation, the process spanned roughly 60 days - a critical window of time where the patient had to remain healthy enough to receive the transplant, yet in severe enough need to justify the procedure. To proceed, Moreno needed the green light from his chain of command. He found an immediate advocate in U.S. Air Force Maj. Jeremy Putz, commander of the 30th Comptroller Squadron.”

• Space Launch Delta 30, November 10: “For Putz, the request was deeply personal; his own mother’s life was saved by a bone marrow transplant in 1989. “That obviously meant the world to me, as a child,” Putz said. “So him sharing that gift of life with another person was tremendous and represented a lot of sacrifice and heroism on his part to raise his hand and then follow through with an invasive surgery.” Putz commended Moreno’s selflessness, noting how perfectly it aligned with the military's core values.”

• Space Launch Delta 30, November 10: “He represents the Air Force outstandingly, having served in this way,” Putz said. “I can’t imagine a greater thing for military members to do than to be lifesavers, as donors, in addition to lifesavers on the battlefield, so that was very in keeping with our core values and service before self.”

• Space Launch Delta 30, November 10: “With his command's backing, Moreno coordinated his travel through the Department of War’s Salute to Life program. To ease the burden of the procedure, Salute to Life covers all donation-related expenses, including testing, airfare, and lodging for both the donor and a designated companion.”

• Space Launch Delta 30, November 10: “To stand by his side, Moreno chose U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Derrick Smith, a protocol superintendent. Smith, who has had family members battle cancer and receive bone marrow transplants, was eager to support his wingman. He noted that the program made the logistical hurdle seamless, managing communication and coordination through a dedicated mobile app. The pair traveled to Washington, D.C., for the procedure. Doctors estimated that the patient, fighting for survival, would receive Moreno’s donated marrow within 24 hours of the operation.”

• Space Launch Delta 30, November 10: “I provided a service for someone else and expected nothing in return,” Moreno said. “I did this out of the kindness of my heart ... I’m just grateful for being able to share that [kindness].” Because of strict medical confidentiality protocols, donors and recipients are kept anonymous immediately following the procedure. However, if both parties agree, they can begin the process of releasing their information to contact one another after four months.”

• Space Launch Delta 30, November 10: “While the transplant was a success, the physical toll of bone marrow surgery requires a long road to recovery for the donor. Back home, Smith extended his own household to Moreno to ensure he had the daily care and support he needed to heal. For a Master Resilience Trainer used to teaching others how to stay strong, the vulnerability of recovery was its own profound lesson.”

• Space Launch Delta 30, November 10: “During that time, I probably felt so human,” Moreno said. “Having to rely on other people - it’s okay to seek help and just ask for help. I think any good leader should be willing to know when to ask for help. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve apologized.” Smith was honored to help his fellow Airman get back to full mission readiness, reflecting on the quiet courage it took for Moreno to step forward.”

• Space Launch Delta 30, November 10: “It comes from somebody with a genuine heart, thinking of somebody else, not even someone they know," Smith said. "It’s just someone in need. There’s that saying - not all heroes wear capes, some wear camouflage - and I think that’s pretty cool.”

• Space Launch Delta 30, November 10: “When asked if he would do it all over again, despite the pain, the recovery, and the vulnerability, Moreno's answer is immediate and absolute: he would, without a doubt. With his convalescent leave over and his boots back on the ground at Vandenberg, Moreno is dedicated to using his platform to raise awareness for the registry, hoping other service members will take the time to get swabbed.”

• Space Launch Delta 30, November 10: “Tomorrow you could sign up, and you can get a call one day and you could potentially help someone out in need,” Moreno said. “At the end of the day, it's just taking care of each other.” To learn more about the Department of War’s Salute to Life program, and potentially save a life yourself, visit [www.salutetolife.org](https://www.salutetolife.org/learn-more)”

• Space Launch Delta 30, November 10: “Space Launch Delta 30 will be hosting a DoW Bone Marrow Registration Drive at the Delta Dash at 7:00 a.m. Friday, December 4, 2026, followed by a blood drive at the Pacific Coast Center from 10:30 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. Airmen and Guardians are encouraged to participate.”