2012

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.

James P. McCarthy, Gen, USAF (Ret)

Vietnam POWs

Berlin Airlift Aircrews

Korean War Airmen

Fighter Pilots of WWII

View previous recipients

National Aerospace Award Recipients

H. H. Arnold Award
For the most significant contribution by a military member for national defense
Norton A. Schwartz, Gen, USAF
Chief of Staff U.S. Air Force
Washington, District of Columbia
     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
James L. Jones, Gen, USMC (Ret)
    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
The Boeing Company
As exemplified by their technical excellence in the development of the following systems:
Global Positioning System, Wide Band Global System and the X-37 System

David C. Schilling Award
For the most outstanding contribution in the field of flight
The Advanced Extremely High Frequency Satellite Rescue Team
Military Satellite Communications (MILSATCOM) Systems Directorate
Los Angeles AFB, California
     List of previous recipients

Theodore von Karman Award
For the most outstanding contribution in the field of science and engineering
24^th Air Force
Lackland AFB, Texas
     List of previous recipients

Gill Robb Wilson Award
For the most outstanding contribution in the field of arts and letters
Mr. Gary Sinise

Hoyt S. Vandenberg Award
For the most outstanding contribution in the field of aerospace education
USAF Weapons School
Nellis AFB, Nevada
     List of previous recipients

Thomas P. Gerrity Award
For the most outstanding contribution in the field of systems and logistics
Eric G. Ellmyer, Lt Col, USAF
439^th Supply Chain Operations Squadron
Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia
     List of previous recipients

Thomas D. White Space Award
Recognizing outstanding contributions to Space
Ellen M. Pawlikowski, Lt Gen USAF
Commander, Space and Missile Systems Center
Los Angeles AFB, CA

     List of previous recipients

Department of Veterans Affairs
Employee of the Year
For the most outstanding performance of duty as a VA employee
Dr. David F. Tharp, Maj, USAF
VISN 17 Center of Excellence for Research on Returning War Veterans
Waco, 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
Bryan R. Jernigan, SSgt, USAF
31^st Test and Evaluation Squadron
Edwards AFB, California

General Billy Mitchell Award for C⁴ Excellence
For the C⁴ professional who most enhanced the United States Air Force’s warfighting capability
David A. Cox, SMSgt, USAF
6^th Communications Squadron
MacDill AFB, Florida

Lieutenant General Claire Lee Chennault Award
For outstanding aerial warfare tactician(s) from ACC, PACAF, USAFE, ANG and AFRC
Michael P. Richard, Capt, USAF
20^th Operations Support Squadron
Shaw AFB, South Carolina

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
Jennifer C. Fontenot, TSgt, USAF
Headquarters Air Education and Training Command
Randolph AFB, Texas

General George C. Kenney Award
For the most significant contribution by an individual or team in the area of lessons learned
Fifth Air Force and Thirteenth Air Force Detachment 1 Lessons Learned Team
Fifth Air Force Headquarters
Yokota AB, Japan

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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.

2012 Airborne Operations Career Field team members:
Kathleen I. Eliseo, SrA, Hurlburt Field, Florida
Jared S. Kordos, SrA, Tinker AFB, Oklahoma
Scott C. May, TSgt, Robins AFB, Georgia
David M. Pederson, II, SrA, Beale AFB, California
Michael Sailer, MSgt, Cannon AFB, New Mexico

List of previous recipients

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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

Gary North, Gen, USAF
Commander, Pacific Air Forces
Air Component Commander, U.S. Pacific Command
Executive Director, Pacific Air Combat Operations Staff
Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii

55^th Electronic Combat Group
Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona

352^nd Special Operations Group
RAF Mildenhall, United Kingdom

94^th Intelligence Squadron
Fort George G. Meade, Maryland

747^th Communications Squadron
Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii

The Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command
Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii

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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
Combat Crew Two
16^th Airborne Command and Control Squadron
Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System
461^st 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 Blue 32
351^st Air Refueling Squadron
RAF Mildenhall, United Kingdom

General Curtis E. LeMay Award
For the best overall bomber aircrew in the United States Air Force
The Crew of BONE 34
34^th Bomb Squadron
28^th Bomb Wing
Ellsworth AFB, South Dakota

General Jerome F. O’Malley Award
For the best reconnaissance crew in the United States Air Force
Aircrew of OLIVE 22
38^th Reconnaissance Squadron
Offutt AFB, Nebraska
95^th Reconnaissance Squadron Detachment 1
Naval Support Activity Souda Bay, Greece
488^th Intelligence Squadron
RAF Mildenhall, United Kingdom

General Thomas S. Power Award
For the best overall missile crew in the United States Air Force
Andrew J. Stevens, Capt, USAF
Ross V. Millard, 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
Charlie Crew
2^nd Space Warning Squadron
Buckley AFB, Colorado

Lieutenant General William H. Tunner Award
For the most outstanding airlift crew in the United States Air Force
The Crew of Fever 11, comprised of aircrew from:
71^st Rescue Squadron
Moody AFB, Georgia
79^th Rescue Squadron and the 38th Rescue Squadron
Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona
308^th Rescue Squadron
Patrick AFB, Florida
A Company, William Beaumont Army Medical Center
El Paso, Texas

Howard W. Leaf Award
For outstanding achievement by a United States Air Force test team engaged in test and evaluation of a defense acquisition program
846^th Test Squadron Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasures (LAIRCOM) Test Team
Holloman AFB, New Mexico

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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
Raymond J. Phillips, CMSgt, ANG
163^rd Aircraft maintenance Squadron
March ARB
California Air National Guard

Earl T. Ricks Award
For the Air National Guard person or persons for outstanding airmanship
Combat Crew One
Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System
128^th Airborne Command and Control Squadron
116^th Air Control Wing
Robins AFB
Georgia Air National Guard

Air National Guard Outstanding Unit Award
For the Air National Guard Unit with the most outstanding airmanship
148^th Fighter Wing
Minnesota 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
David A. DeAngelis, Maj, USAFR
466^th Fighter Squadron
Hill AFB, Utah

Air Force Reserve Unit Award
For the Air Force Reserve Unit which displays superior performance and outstanding achievements
910^th Airlift Wing
Youngstown ARS, Ohio

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	Robert J. Sweet, Lt Col, USAFR 476th Fighter Group Moody AFB, Georgia and Southwest Airlines Company
Enlisted Category	Kenellias C. Smith, SMSgt, USAFR 301st Maintenance Squadron Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, Texas and The Boeing Company

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