Veteran student joins Idaho political campaign

Justin Wing is balancing his final year at Boise State University with work on a local political campaign. The senior majoring in public service leadership is helping manage operations for Todd Achilles, a candidate in Idaho. Wing has expanded his role to include assisting with the candidate’s daily needs and supporting broader campaign activities.

Wing enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 2020. He served for five years as an Aviation Electrician Mate. When he joined the service, he intended to pursue aviation and eventually become an astronaut. He began his service during the pandemic and spent two weeks in quarantine in a hotel room before basic training. He said the isolation challenged him early on but built the patience he uses now.

“Public service and bureaucracy is a very slow process,” Wing said. “I think that patience has really helped me out.”

While in the Navy, Wing took college courses part time. He initially studied engineering. As his service ended, he shifted his focus after observing changes in the military and concerns about how service members were treated. He said he watched colleagues face uncertainty and felt their treatment was unfair. This experience changed how he viewed leadership and responsibility. “I think my purpose and my passion would be better suited toward public service,” he said.

Wing chose public service leadership to explore politics, criminal justice, and government. Before leaving the Navy, he interned as a legal assistant with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California. His path into Idaho politics began when he spoke at an event called Boise State Listens. Austin Campbell, the campaign manager for Achilles, approached Wing afterward. Wing accepted an internship with the campaign.

Wing is also helping develop Students for Independence chapters on Idaho college campuses. This effort aims to give students practical political experience. Wing graduates in spring 2027. He is weighing paths in constituent services or law school. He has applied to law schools with an interest in civil rights and disability law. He hopes to help Idahoans navigate government agencies and access benefits.