An active-duty airman from St. Louis was killed Thursday when the heavy equipment he was operating went off an embankment at Vandenberg Space Force Base, according to base officials. The service member, Airman 1st Class Cedric Eneluna, 23, died at the scene, leaving his tight-knit unit in mourning.
Eneluna served with the 30th Civil Engineer Squadron’s Pavements and Equipment Flight, the crew better known around the base as the “Dirt Boyz.” He had enlisted in March 2024, Noozhawk reported. Vandenberg leaders praised his “professionalism, humility and unwavering commitment,” saying he made a lasting impression in the short time he had been with the team.
Investigation underway
A Safety Investigation Board has been convened to piece together exactly how the incident unfolded, and the Santa Barbara County coroner has not yet issued an official cause of death, according to News Channel 3-12. The Department of the Air Force has said additional details will remain under wraps until that investigation is finished.
What the Pavements and Equipment team does
The 30th Civil Engineer Squadron is responsible for keeping Vandenberg’s infrastructure running and providing emergency services across the sprawling installation, according to a fact sheet from Vandenberg Space Force Base. Its heavy-equipment specialists build and maintain runways, roads and fire breaks that are critical to launch and range operations. The squadron also maintains miles of access roads and works closely with local fire agencies during wildfire season.
Local connections and response
Eneluna spent part of his childhood in the Philippines and considered St. Louis home. He arrived at Vandenberg in August 2024, according to Noozhawk. In the wake of his death, photos and social media posts from the base showed members of the dozer team wearing a black mourning band, as fellow airmen and commanders shared condolences and tributes. Officials said any memorial plans will be announced once they are finalized.
Units assigned to the base are supporting the ongoing investigation, and leaders have urged the public to respect the family’s privacy while the coroner and the Air Force complete their reviews. Authorities said no further information will be released at this time.
