FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

AFA Announces 2007 National Aerospace and Specialty Awards

Arlington, Va., July 26, 2007 – The Air Force Association (AFA) has announced award recipients for its annual national awards program. Individuals receiving recognition include: Secretary of the Air Force Michael W. Wynne, Air Force General Ronald Keys and Former Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force Paul Airey.

The above individuals and their representatives will be invited to award presentations during AFA’s 2007 Air & Space Conference and Technology Exhibition scheduled for September 24 -26, at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel, Washington, D.C. Some of the other awards (listed below) will be presented locally.

“The Air Force Association is proud to recognize the many outstanding men and women throughout the U.S. Air Force, government, academia and the aerospace industry who excelled in performing their duties in support of national defense,” said AFA Chairman of the Board Bob Largent. “We will also recognize our many AFA volunteers at both state and chapters levels who support our nation’s Air Force.”

“Whether deployed overseas fighting the War on Terrorism or helping deliver humanitarian aid in the aftermath of natural disasters, the Air Force team of civilians, active-duty members, Guardsmen, Reservists and contractors always respond with excellence,” Largent said. “It is this type of outstanding achievement, service and commitment that continues to make our Air Force and nation strong.“

The award recipients are:

JOHN R. ALISON AWARD
For the most outstanding contribution by industrial leadership to national defense.
Lockheed Martin and The Boeing Company

W. STUART SYMINGTON AWARD
For the most significant contribution by a Department of the Air Force civilian in the field of national defense.
The Honorable Michael W. Wynne
Secretary of the Air Force

H. H. ARNOLD AWARD
For the most significant contribution by a military member for national defense.
General Ronald E. Keys
Commander, Air Combat Command, USAF

AFA LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS
Recognizes not a single achievement, but a lifetime of work in the advancement of aerospace.
Paul W. Airey
Former Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force

JOAN ORR AIR FORCE SPOUSE OF THE YEAR AWARD
For civilian spouses of military members for their significant contributions to the Air Force.
Mrs. Michele D. Jurgensen
Ankara, Turkey

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR
For the most outstanding performance of duty as a VA employee.
Mr. Carl E. Lowe, II
Waco, Texas

DAVID C. SCHILLING AWARD
For the most outstanding contribution in the field of flight.
17th Airlift Squadron
Charleston AFB, SC

THEODORE VON KARMAN AWARD
For the most outstanding contribution in the field of science and engineering.
Major Steven M. Ross
Air Force Institute of Technology
Wright-Patterson AFB, OH

GILL ROBB WILSON AWARD
For the most outstanding contribution in the field of arts and letters.
Mr. Donald Lopez
Deputy Director
Smithsonian Institution
National Air & Space Museum
Washington, DC

HOYT S. VANDENBERG AWARD
For the most outstanding contribution in the field of aerospace education.
Mr. Ross Perot, Jr.
Chairman
Perot Systems Corporation
Plano, Texas

THOMAS P. GERRITY AWARD
For the most outstanding contribution in the field of systems and logistics.
Lt Col William T. Singer
Deputy Director
565th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron
Tinker AFB, Okla.

GEN BILLY MITCHELL AWARD FOR C4 EXCELLENCE
For the C4 professional who most enhanced the Air Force's war-fighting capability.
Lt Col William J. Poirier
35th Communications Squadron
Misawa AB, Japan

Air National Guard
CMSGT DICK RED AWARD
For exceptional technical expertise in aircraft maintenance; leadership in the unit; contributions to unit training; improvement of equipment capability, reliability and maintainability.
CMSgt Terry M. Allen
175th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron
Maryland Air National Guard

EARL T. RICKS AWARD
For the Air National Guard person or persons for outstanding airmanship.
The Crew of Jolly 92
129th Rescue Squadron
129th Rescue Wing
California Air National Guard
Moffett Federal Air Field, Calif.

AIR NATIONAL GUARD OUTSTANDING UNIT AWARD
For the Air National Guard Unit with the most outstanding airmanship.
114th Fighter Wing
South Dakota Air National Guard

GEORGE W. BUSH AWARD

Officer Category
Captain Andrew F. Bennett
Florida Air National Guard
Employed by:
Advanced C4 Solutions, Inc.
Tampa, Fla.

Enlisted Category
MSgt Alice Sischo
Wisconsin Air National Guard
Employed by:
Kwik Trip, Inc.
La Crosse, Wis.

Air Force Reserves
AIR FORCE RESERVE UNIT AWARD (OUTSTANDING FLYING UNIT)
For the AF Reserve wing which displays superior performance and outstanding achievements during the year.
446th Airlift Wing
United States Air Force Reserves
McChord AFB, Wash.

PRESIDENT'S AWARD FOR AIR FORCE RESERVE COMMAND
For the AF Reserve unit which displays outstanding flying achievement and continued superior performance.
446th Airlift Wing
United States Air Force Reserves
McChord AFB, Wash.

CITIZEN AIRMAN AWARDS

Enlisted Category
Senior Master Sergeant Kenneth C. Crosby
914th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron
Niagara Falls Air Reserve Base, N.Y.
Employed by: Middle Atlantic
Warehouse Distributor, Inc.
Tonawanda, N.Y.

Officer Category
Major Thomas N. Jensen
97th Airlift Squadron
446th Airlift Wing
McChord AFB, Wash.
Employed by
Alaska Airlines
Seattle, Wash.

Education
OUTSTANDING ROTC CADET OF THE YEAR
Cadet Major Maureen A. Hartney
University of Florida

CAP AEROSPACE EDUCATION CADET OF THE YEAR
Cadet Major Maria T. Mangano
Iowa State University

JIMMY STEWART VIDEO CONTEST WINNER
For the best JROTC unit created video on assigned topic.
Flagler Palm Coast High School
AFJROTC Unit FL-936
Bunnel, Fla.

CHRISTA MCAULIFFE MEMORIAL TEACHER OF THE YEAR
For the classroom teacher in K-12th grade demonstrating excellence in furthering the concepts of Aerospace Technologies. Also funds go to 2nd and 3rd place.

Professional
CHAPLAIN SERVICE AWARD
For outstanding performance by a member of the USAF Chaplain Service.
Chaplain, Colonel Gary L. Carlson
USCENTAF Command Chaplain

PAUL W. MYERS AWARD
For the AF Med Corps Officer who has made the most significant contribution to the continued good health of the men and women of the USAF.
Lt Col Christopher G. Scharenbrock
Chief Medical Officer
Qalat Provincial Reconstruction Team
60th Medical Operations Squadron
Travis AFB, Calif.

JUANITA REDMOND AWARD
For the AF nurse (Lt or Capt) who provides significant contribution to health care of an AF individual or family, excellence in clinical nursing or improvement in nursing care.
Captain Christina R. Wheeler
Clinical Nurse, Pediatrics
Scott AFB, Ill.

STUART R. REICHART AWARD
For outstanding achievements in the field of law within the USAF.
Mr. Lyndon B. James
Director of International Law
16th Air Force, Detachment 3
Royal Air Force Base Mildenhall, U.K.

U.S. AIR FORCE PERSONNEL MANAGER AWARD
For outstanding performance as a personnel manager while serving in the USAF.
Captain Liza M. Theriault
51st Mission Support Squadron
Osan AB, Republic of Korea

AIR FORCE MANAGEMENT AWARD (EXECUTIVE LEVEL)
For outstanding contributions to management while assigned to AFMC.
Ms. Lynda T. Rutledge
708th Armament Systems Group
308th Armament Systems Wing
Eglin AFB, Fla.

VERNE ORR AWARD
For the best utilization of human resources in the USAF.
5th Bomb Wing
Minot AFB, N.D.

OUTSTANDING CIVILIAN SENIOR MANAGER OF THE YEAR
Mr. Robert C. Renko
Defense Computer Forensics Laboratory
Defense Cyber Crime Center
Linthicum, Md.

CHIEF MASTER SERGEANT OF THE AIR FORCE THOMAS N. BARNES AWARD
For the outstanding aircraft crew chief in the USAF.
Charles R. Tate, III, SSgt, USAF
463d Aircraft Maintenance Squadron
Little Rock AFB, Ark.

Crews and Teams
TEST & EVALUATION TEAM OF THE YEAR AWARD
For outstanding achievement by a USAF test team engaged in the test and evaluation of a defense acquisition program.
Small Diameter Bomb Test Team
Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center
Eglin AFB, Fla.

LT GEN WILLIAM H. TUNNER AWARD
For the most outstanding airlift crew in the Air Force.
The Crew of OUZO 05
7th Special Operations Squadron
Royal Air Force
Mildenhall, United Kingdom

BRIG GEN ROSS G. HOYT AWARD
For the best air refueling crew (active, ANG or Reserve) in the USAF.
The Air Crew of SHADOW 61
67TH Special Operations Squadron
352d Special Operations Group
Royal Air Force
Mildenhall, U.K.

GEN CURTIS E. LEMAY AWARD
For the best overall bomber aircrew in the Air Force.
The Crew of BONE 27
37th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron
28th Bomb Wing
Ellsworth AFB, S.D.

GEN THOMAS S. POWER AWARD
For the best overall missile crew in the Air Force.
Captain Melissa S. Ward and
First Lieutenant James A. Mijatovich
90th Space Wing
Francis E. Warren AFB, Wyo.

LT GEN CLAIRE LEE CHENNAULT AWARD
For outstanding aerial warfare tactician(s) from TAC, PACAF, USAFE, ANG and AF Reserves.
Major Clinton W. Eichelberger
66th Weapons Squadron
USAF Weapons School
Nellis AFB, NV

GEN JEROME O'MALLEY AWARD
For the best reconnaissance crew in the USAF.
RC-135 (RIVET JOINT) Crew of Crowe 45
55th Wing
Offutt AFB, NE

BEST SPACE OPERATIONS CREW AWARD
For the best overall space operations crew in the USAF.
2D Range Operations Squadron
FTG-02 Range Crew
30th Space Wing
Vandenberg AFB, Calif.

AIRBORNE BATTLE MANAGEMENT CREW OF THE YEAR AWARD
For the outstanding AWACs or Joint Stars aircrew's battle management contribution to the USAF and air power.
Joint Stars 12th Expeditionary Airborne Command and Control Squadron Crew Three
116 Air Control Wing
Robins AFB, Ga.

Outstanding Airmen of the Year
For recipients selected by the office of the CMSAF as the best enlisted personnel in the Air Force.

Senior Airman Linn Aubrey
Lackland AFB, Texas

Senior Airman Matthew C. Hulsman
Elmendorf AFB, Alaska

Staff Sergeant Matthew J. Hefti
Hill AFB, Utah

Staff Sergeant Richard W. Rose
Charleston AFB, S.C.

Staff Sergeant Jonathan C. McCoy
Pope AFB, N.C.

Staff Sergeant David Orvosh
Pope AFB, N.C.

Staff Sergeant Geoffrey M. Welsh
Seymour Johnson AFB, NC

Master Sergeant Sachiko D. Jones
Alconbury AB, U.K.

Technical Sergeant Jeremy L. Griffin
Patrick AFB, Fla.

Senior Master Sergeant Lawrence B. Taylor
Klamath Falls, Ore.

Senior Master Sergeant Tammy L. Brangard-Hern
Randolph AFB, Texas

Senior Master Sergeant Ronald A. Colaninno
McGuire AFB, N.J.

Awards for Presentations Local to the Award Recipient

CITATIONS OF HONOR
For the outstanding contribution of an individual or organization to the development of aerospace power for the betterment of mankind.
ROVER Team (Big Safari, AFCSO, CENTAF, A5X, SAF/AQI/FMB)
Office of the Secretary of the Air Force

301st Mission Support Group
Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base, Fort Worth, Texas

43rd Airlift Wing
Pope AFB, N.C.

1st Special Operations Group
Hurlburt Field, Fla.

658th Aeronautical Systems Squadron
Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio

Rapid Attack ID & Detection and Reporting System
Deployable Ground Segment Team
379th Expeditionary Communications Squadron
Al Udeid AB, Qatar

355th Logistics Readiness Squadron
Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ

86th Airlift Wing
Ramstein AB, Germany

GEN EDWIN W. RAWLINGS AWARD (MANAGEMENT AND TECHNICIAN CATEGORIES)
For outstanding achievements in the field of environmental conservation within the USAF. Awarded to one supervisor and one technician each year.

Management
Mr. Kevin S. Hooper
45th Civil Engineering Squadron
Cape Canaveral AFB, Fla.

Technician
Technical Sergeant Joseph A. Barry
50th Civil Engineering Squadron
Schriever AFB, Colo.

CIVILIAN PROGRAM MANAGER OF THE YEAR
Mr. Robert D. LeFever
820th Security Forces Group
23rd Wing
Moody AFB, Ga.

CIVILIAN PROGRAM SPECIALIST OF THE YEAR
Mr. Christopher R. Nordberg
309th Maintenance Group
309th Maintenance Wing
Hill AFB, Utah

CIVILIAN WAGE EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR
Mr. David L. Smart
1st Special Operations Logistics Readiness Squadron
1st Special Operations Wing
Hurlburt Field, Fla.

AIR FORCE MANAGEMENT AWARD
For outstanding contributions to management while assigned to AFMC.

Middle Division
Major Kristi L. Forino
558th Aircraft Sustainment Group
508th aircraft Sustainment Wing
Hill AFB, Utah

Junior Division
Captain Richard L. Van Slyke
516th Aeronautical Systems Group
516th Aeronautical Systems Wing
Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio