2011

Each year the Air Force Association honors the outstanding achievements of men and women throughout the United States Air Force, government, academia and the aerospace industry. The Association presents the awards at local AFA chapter and regional forums and during the Air & Space Conference and Technology Exposition in the Washington, D.C, area. Nominations for AFA national aerospace awards are solicited from the United States Air Force, members and leaders of AFA, the aerospace industry and U.S. citizens or organizations having a deep interest in aerospace activities.

For more information on the AFA National Aerospace Awards, please contact: Lynette Cross lcross@afa.org, (703) 247-5800, Ext. 4807

Lifetime Achievement Awards

AFA’s Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes not a single achievement, but a lifetime of work in the advancement of aerospace.

Mrs. Natalie W. Crawford
Senior Fellow, RAND Corporation

Thomas P. Stafford, Lt Gen, USAF (Ret)

Larry D. Welch, Gen, USAF (Ret)

Heavy Bombardment Crews of WWII

The Commando Sabre Operation – Call Sign “MISTY”

View previous recipients

National Aerospace Award Recipients

H. H. Arnold Award
For the most significant contribution by a military member for national defense
Duncan J. McNabb, Gen, USAF
USTRANSCOM
Scott AFB, Illinois
     List of previous recipients
     AIR FORCE Magazine article on H.H. Arnold

W. Stuart Symington Award
For the most significant contribution by a civilian for national defense
Representative C.W. Bill Young
(R - Florida)
    List of previous recipients
     AIR FORCE Magazine article on Stuart Symington

John R. Alison Award
For the most outstanding contribution by industrial leadership to national defense
United Launch Alliance for the Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle
Managed by the Launch and Range Systems Directorate
of the Space and Missile Systems Center
Los Angeles AFB, California

David C. Schilling Award
For the most outstanding contribution in the field of flight
The United States Air Force’s Aeromedical Evacuation Teams
     List of previous recipients

Theodore von Karman Award
For the most outstanding contribution in the field of science and engineering
Air Force Research Laboratory for Alternative Fuels
     List of previous recipients

Gill Robb Wilson Award
For the most outstanding contribution in the field of arts and letters
Nathan L. Gallahan, TSgt, USAF
28^th Bomb Wing
Ellsworth AFB, South Dakota

Hoyt S. Vandenberg Award
For the most outstanding contribution in the field of aerospace education
Dana H. Born, Brig Gen, USAF
And the Collaborative Undergraduate Education Programs at the
United States Air Force Academy
Colorado Springs, Colorado
     List of previous recipients

Thomas P. Gerrity Award
For the most outstanding contribution in the field of systems and logistics
Sean K. Tyler, Lt Col, USAF
436^th Logistics Readiness Squadron
Dover AFB, Delaware
     List of previous recipients

Thomas D. White Space Award
Recognizing outstanding contributions to Space
Larry D. James, Lt Gen, USAF
14^th Air Force, Air Forces Strategic
Vandenberg AFB, California

     List of previous recipients

Department of Veterans Affairs
Employee of the Year
For the most outstanding performance of duty as a VA employee
Dr. Stephen R. Holt, Col, USAF (Ret)
VA North Texas Health Care System
Dallas, Texas

Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force Thomas N. Barnes Award
For the most outstanding aircraft crew chief in the United States Air Force
Bobby Elzie, SSgt, USAF
8^th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron
Kunsan AB, Republic of Korea

General Billy Mitchell Award for C⁴ Excellence
For the C⁴ professional who most enhanced the United States Air Force’s warfighting capability
Ira J. Begley, III, SSgt, USAF
1^st Air and Space Communications Operations Squadron
Ramstein AB, Germany

Lieutenant General Claire Lee Chennault Award
For outstanding aerial warfare tactician(s) from ACC, PACAF, USAFE, ANG and AFRC
Joshua L. Kubacz, Capt, USAF
510^th Fighter Squadron
Aviano AB, Italy

General Larry D. Welch Award
For the most significant impact by an individual on the overall operations, safety, security, and effectiveness of the Air Force nuclear mission
Frank G. Klotz, Lt Gen, USAF (Ret)
Former Commander, Air Force Global Strike Command

General George C. Kenney Award
For the most significant contribution by an individual or team in the area of lessons learned
Air Force Fort Hood Follow-On Review Team
Headquarters Air Force
Manpower, Personnel and Services
Washington, District of Columbia

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Team of the Year Award

Each year, the Air Force Association recognizes a specific enlisted career field for recognition. These are professionals who display superior technical expertise, attract the praise of their superiors, and provide leadership and inspiration to their co-workers. The Office of the Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force, forwards the team selection to AFA and AFA honors the team members and their spouses in a ceremony in the District of Columbia.

2011 First Sergeants Career Field team members:
David Henry, CMSgt, Robins AFB, Georgia
Melanie Noel, SMSgt, Maxwell-Gunter AFB, Alabama
Manny Pineiro, SMSgt, Ramstein AB, Germany
Ernest Williams, SMSgt, San Diego ANGS, California
Todd Meaney, MSgt, F.E. Warren AFB, Wyoming

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Citation of Honor Awards

For the outstanding contribution of an individual or organization to the development of aerospace power for the betterment of mankind

Mr. James Clark
Director, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Innovations
HQ US Air Force
Washington, District of Columbia

Mr. William A. Davidson
Administrative Assistant to the
Secretary of the Air Force
Washington, District of Columbia

621^st Contingency Response Wing
Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey

42^nd Attack Squadron
Creech AFB, Nevada

Dr. Richard P. Hallion

Donald C. Wurster, Lt Gen, USAF (Ret)
Former Commander, Air Force Special Operations Command

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Crew Awards

Airborne Battle Management Crew of the Year Award
For the outstanding AWACs or Joint Stars aircrew’s battle management contribution to the United States Air Force and air power
Crew Eight
128^th Airborne Command and Control Squadron
Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System
116th Air Control Wing
Robins AFB, Georgia

Brigadier General Ross G. Hoyt Award
For the best air refueling crew (Active, ANG or Reserve) in the United States Air Force
The Crew of Woody 27
9^th Special Operations Squadron
Eglin AFB, Florida

General Curtis E. LeMay Award
For the best overall bomber aircrew in the United States Air Force
The Crew of BONE 21
9^th Bomb Squadron
Dyess AFB, Texas

General Jerome F. O’Malley Award
For the best reconnaissance crew in the United States Air Force
Charles G. Cameron, Capt, USAF
99^th Reconnaissance Squadron
Beale AFB, California

General Thomas S. Power Award
For the best overall missile crew in the United States Air Force
Daniel R. Moore, Capt, USAF
Stephen McVay, 1 Lt, USAF
90^th Missile Wing
Francis E. Warren AFB, Wyoming

Best Space Operations Crew Award
For the best overall space operations crew in the United States Air Force
The X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle Operations Crew
3^rd Space Experimentation Squadron
Schriever AFB, Colorado

Lieutenant General William H. Tunner Award
For the most outstanding airlift crew in the United States Air Force
The Crew of MOOSE 85
14^th Airlift Squadron
Joint Base Charleston, South Carolina

Howard W. Leaf Award
For outstanding achievement by an United States Air Force test team engaged in test and evaluation of a defense acquisition program
Dragon Spear Operational Test Team
18^th Flight Test Squadron
Hurlburt Field, Florida

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Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve Awards

Chief Master Sergeant Dick Red Award
For outstanding Air National Guard aerospace maintenance
Randall K. Wilkison, CMSgt, USAF
153^rd Maintenance Group
Wyoming Air National Guard

Earl T. Ricks Award
For the Air National Guard person or persons for outstanding airmanship
Not awarded for 2011

Air National Guard Outstanding Unit Award
For the Air National Guard Unit with the most outstanding airmanship
171^st Air Refueling Wing
Pennsylvania Air National Guard

George W. Bush Award for ANG Members and Employers
To recognize outstanding civilian employers of Air National Guard members who made outstanding contributions to the total force mission

President's Award for Air Force Reserve Command
For the Air Force Reserve unit which displays outstanding flying achievement and continued superior performance
Michael J. Remualdo, Lt Col, USAF, and
Benjamin R. Evans, Maj, USAF, and
Ronald W. Davis, SSgt, USAF
465^th Air Refueling Squadron
Tinker AFB, Oklahoma

Air Force Reserve Unit Award
For the Air Force Reserve Unit which displays superior performance and outstanding achievements
452^nd Air Mobility Wing
March ARB, California

Air Force Reserve Citizen Airmen Awards
To recognize outstanding civilian employers of the Air Force Reserve members who made outstanding contributions to the total force mission

Officer Category	Tomas J. Sohayda, Maj, USAF 96th Flying Training Squadron Laughlin AFB, Texas and NetJets, Inc. Columbus, Ohio
Enlisted Category	Jeffrey B. LaFreniere, TSgt, USAF 482nd Civil Engineer Squadron Homestead Air Reserve Base, Florida and AT&T Coral Springs, Florida

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