This award recognizes 12 outstanding enlisted personnel
for superior leadership, job performance, community
involvement, and personal achievements. AFA honors the
12 Outstanding Airmen at its annual convention in Washington, D.C. The
program was initiated at the Air Force Association's 10th
annual national Conference, held in New Orleans in 1956. The
Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force, a general officer
and selected Maj Com command chiefs form the selection board. The Air Force Chief of
Staff reviews the selections. The 12 Outstanding Airmen are awarded the
Outstanding Airman ribbon with the bronze service star
device and wear the Outstanding Airman badge for one
year. They also serve on the Air Force Enlisted Council for
one year. Guidelines for submissions are outlined in Air
Force Instruction 36-2805.
For questions concerning the 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year program contact Lynette Cross at
lcross@afa.org or call 1-800-727-3337 ext. 4807;
Air Force point of contact is HQ AFPC/DPPRS. For a more detailed history of the Outstanding Airman Award,
click here.
For a complete listing of all recipients since the Award's inception,
click here. (NOTE: This is a MS Excel file; the historical
documentation is incomplete. If you are able to fill in any of the missing
information, please contact Lynette Cross -- 703-247-5800 ext. 4807 or
lcross@afa.org.)
2009 USAF Twelve Outstanding Airmen
Click name for full bio
Manuel J. Herrera
Unit: 375th Explosive Ordnance Disposal Flight, Scott AFB, Illinois
Duty Title: Explosive Ordnance Disposal Craftsman
Christopher W. Pollock
Unit: 18th Civil Engineer Squadron, Kadena AB, Japan
Duty Title: Horizontal Section Chief
Mary A. Bechdel
Unit: 13th Intelligence Squadron, Beale AFB, California
Duty Title: Operations Superintendent
Johanna S. Aviles
Unit: West Coast Communications Support Element, Los Angeles, California
Duty Title: Computer, Network, Switching and Cryptographic Systems Journeyman
Alexander W. Royal
Unit: 13th Air Support Operations Squadron, Fort Carson AIN, Colorado
Duty Title: Tactical Air Control Party
Benjamin P. Horton
Unit: 775th Civil Engineer Squadron, Hill AFB, Utah
Duty Title: Section Chief, Explosive Ordnance Disposal Resources
Jeffrey E. Steagall
Unit: Headquarters Air Force Space Command, Peterson AFB, Colorado
Duty Title: Superintendent, Communications and Information Systems
John T. Carter
Unit: 100th Security Forces Squadron, RAF Mildenhall, England
Duty Title: NCOIC of Resources
Jennifer S. Laufer
Unit: 42nd Air Base Wing, Maxwell AFB, Alabama
Duty Title: Chaplain Assistant
Channel H. Bolton-Scholl
Unit: 446th Maintenance Squadron, McChord AFB, Washington
Duty Title: Aircraft Maintenance Technician
Tyrone F. Bingham
Unit: 170th Operational Support Squadron, Offutt AFB, Nebraska
Duty Title: Host Aviation Resource Manager
Marisol M. Lozada
Unit: 27th Special Operations Medical Group, Cannon AFB, New Mexico
Duty Title: Mental Health Technician
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