|
For Immediate Release
August 1, 2011
AFA Announces 2011 Outstanding Airmen of the Year
Arlington, VA – The Air Force Association today announced the 2011 Twelve Outstanding Airmen of the Year.
Each year, AFA salutes 12 outstanding enlisted personnel for superior leadership, job performance, community involvement and personal achievements. AFA proudly honors these Outstanding Airmen at its annual Air & Space Conference and Technology Exposition in the Washington, D.C. area.
“The Air Force Association is very proud to honor the dedication and commitment of these outstanding servicemen and women,” said Sandy Schlitt, AFA Chairmen of the Board. “Their leadership is admirable and we salute their fine examples of patriotism. “
“It’s a privilege to join the Air Force in saluting these exemplary airmen, who have illustrated exceptional performance in their line of duty,” said Mike Dunn, President and CEO of AFA. “These individuals truly warranted this recognition and we commend them for their service and courage.”
The OAY program was initiated at the Air Force Association's 10th annual national Convention, held in New Orleans in 1956. The Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force, a general officer and selected Major Command chiefs form the selection board. The Air Force Chief of Staff reviews the selections. The Twelve Outstanding Airmen are awarded the Outstanding Airmen ribbon with the bronze service star device and wear the Outstanding Airmen badge for one year. They also serve on the Air Force Enlisted Council for one year.
For more information, contact Lynette Cross at lcross@afa.org or call 1-800-727-3337 ext. 4807.
The recipients of the 2011 Airmen of the Year Award are as follows:
 Name: Patrick D. Jones
Duty Title: Operations Superintendent
Organization: 375th Civil Engineer Squadron, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois
Home of Record: Shreveport, Louisiana
Senior Master Sergeant Patrick D. Jones provided leadership, direction and management for 250 multi-skilled, multi-craft military and civilian engineers. He maintained 57 road miles on 3,600 acres of land worth $3 billion for 40,000 Airmen with 48 General Officers and Senior Executive Service while supporting several high level organizations to include the United States Transportation Command, Air Mobility Command, 18th Air Force and associate units. Sergeant Jones also led a 50 year, $250 million privatized water program including a 24-mile pipeline repair program which was a first for the Air Force.
 Name: David L. Newman
Duty Title: Knowledge Operations Management Superintendent
Organization: United States Strategic Command, Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska
Home of Record: Camarillo, California
Senior Master Sergeant David L. Newman executed knowledge operations management for four multi-services, five directorates and six geographically separated combatant command organizations where he orchestrated over 1,800 action items and optimized a $285 million dollar budget critical to national command and control policy. He forecasted over 50 nuclear surety inspections across five platforms, including multiple departments and major commanders, reviving critical accountability and ensuring a strong nuclear enterprise. Sergeant Newman earned the highly regarded Six-Sigma master certification and created a robust training program, which certified over 120 tasks and significantly reduced upgrade training time to eight weeks. He also served as the headquarters first sergeant where he supported 16 geographically separated units and 1,600 personnel across four services engaging a multitude of issues.
 Name: Daniel Skidmore
Duty Title: Combat Control Journeyman
Organization: 21st Special Tactics Squadron, Pope Air Force Base, North Carolina
Home of Record: Hancock, Michigan
Senior Airman Daniel Skidmore deployed on a moment’s notice arriving within 26 hours of the earthquake in Haiti where he immediately opened the airfield key to relief operations. He served on a six-man air traffic control team, ran international airport operations out of his rucksack and directed 4,180 sorties with zero mishaps. Airman Skidmore volunteered to deploy in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM to fill a squadron manning gap, where he filled a critical role through 60 missions, three firefights and 20 mortar attacks. He further surveyed two drop zones, controlled ten airdrops which delivered over 120,000 pounds of supplies and sustained a 12-man team at an extremely remote location.
 Name: Jordan Bishopp
Duty Title: Explosive Ordnance Disposal Craftsman
Organization: 377th Explosive Ordnance Disposal Flight, Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico
Home of Record: Albuquerque, New Mexico
Staff Sergeant Jordan Bishopp deployed in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM where he executed 60 route clearing missions, clearing over 5,000 miles for critical convoy operations. He flawlessly supported the 10th Mountain Division and 173rd Airborne where his expertise averted disaster on 724 successful missions. Sergeant Bishopp personally neutralized 46 Improvised Explosive Devices allowing more than 750 soldiers to execute combat operations. He further analyzed 12 post blast calls, collected over 500 pieces of evidence from attacks and trained 150 soldiers in identification techniques where his efforts directly reduced insurgent activity by 33 percent.
 Name: Bradley A. Williams
Duty Title: Vehicle Operator/Dispatcher
Organization: 5th Logistics Readiness Squadron, Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota
Home of Record: Elkhart, Indiana
Technical Sergeant Bradley A. Williams deployed as a Joint Expeditionary Task Airman with the United States Army where he commanded 17 convoys over 16,000 miles transporting 41,000 tons of cargo which was the critical link to 23 forward operating bases and 150,000 allied troops. He identified vehicle improvised explosive devices, rerouted six convoys and engaged quick reaction forces and explosive ordinance device technicians, as well as thwarting small arms attack. His efforts guaranteed safety and resulted in no casualties. Sergeant Williams led vehicle support for over 3,000 requests, 4,000 passengers and 1 million tons of cargo critical to the support of a flawless dual nuclear mission installation. He further served as the interim unit first sergeant where he reenergized the family care program, engaged in several complicated cases and proactively implemented financial training for squadron personnel reducing average debt by over 10 percent.
 Name: Nora Limjoco
Duty Title: Dental Lab Journeyman
Organization: 30th Medical Operations Squadron, Vandenberg Air Force Base, California
Home of Record: Bossier City, Louisiana
As a Basic Life Support Program Director, Senior Airman Nora Limjoco scheduled, tracked and certified over 3,000 base personnel. She also led a five person laboratory during a six-month noncommissioned officer-in-charge absence and guaranteed accuracy of $93,500 in prosthetic care. She maintained $85,000 in laboratory equipment and supplies and expertly mitigated a 36 percent budget reduction without compromising quality care. Airman Limjoco researched over 1,000 material safety data sheets, trained staff and managed the precious metal program. She ensured 100 percent compliance with hazardous material program and maintained a perfect record of accountability for over $24,000 in gold. She also mentored and trained junior Airmen as well as ten California state emergency medical technician instructors to ensure that the statewide emergency management exercise was a great success.
 Name: Rick Chavez
Duty Title: Military Training Instructor
Organization: 433rd Training Squadron, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas
Home of Record: El Paso, Texas
Technical Sergeant Rick Chavez is a master blue rope military training instructor. He has trained over 39,000 Airmen in war skills, survivability, airmanship and drill through 44 courses. He revised the war fighter courseware and authored numerous classroom checklists, which has reduced class preparation time by 26 percent, equipment errors by 42 percent and has impacted countless numbers of future warriors. Sergeant Chavez spearheaded the 737th Training Groups training evaluation preparation and revitalized the safety program. He conducted over 560 evaluations which resulted in error free programs. He also designed an instructor training program for 160 future military training instructors through 25 objectives. He personally mentored eight instructors during certification, with a 100 percent readiness in two-thirds of the normal timeframe.
 Name: Dustin K. Goodwin
Duty Title: Flight Chief
Organization: 48th Security Forces Squadron, RAF Lakenheath, England
Home of Record: Forbestown, California
Technical Sergeant Dustin K. Goodwin deployed in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM where he engaged and defeated 20 enemy forces and provided cover fire for the wounded. He augmented base defense on outside the wire missions, responded to 13 rocket attacks, searched two suspected moles and seized 15 key documents which foiled an espionage plot. Sergeant Goodwin organized the transfer of a terrorist cell target, removed improvised explosive device expert from the street and worked closely with Army Criminal Investigative Division and the United States Secret Service to detain a subject in connection to a threat to the President of the United States. He also led numerous law and order cases to guarantee the security and accountability of over $1.8 billion in assets.
 Name: Kathleen M. McCool
Duty Title: Superintendent, Recruiter Screening Team
Organization: Headquarters, Air Force Recruiting Squadron, Randolph Air Force Base, Texas
Home of Record: Buckeye, Arizona
Senior Master Sergeant Kathleen M. McCool led the best enlisted accessions flight in the Air Force. She coordinated with over 100 Air Force career field managers to revamp a new recruit assignment process, saving over 5,000 hours per year in screening time. She was the Air Education and Training Command lead for the special duty briefing team, which visited over 65 bases and increased recruiter applications by 300 percent. As the lead for recruiter hiring, Sergeant McCool scrutinized the quality filling over 1,200 slots, resulting in a 96 percent recruiter school graduation rate. She identified over 160 surplus slots, centralized recruiter interviews and cut the recruiter selection timeline by 90 days, which resulted in the numerous placements of qualified recruiters in hard-to-fill locations.
 Name: John C. Norris
Duty Title: Tactical Air Control Party Member
Organization: 148th Air Support Operations Squadron, Fort Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania
Home of Record: New Britain, Connecticut
Staff Sergeant John C. Norris deployed in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM where he charged into enemy fire rescuing two wounded and isolated soldiers while he simultaneously controlled multiple air assets and directed close air support strikes. Also while deployed, he brilliantly controlled 120 close air support taskings for the 101st Airborne Division and fearlessly conducted over 100 combat patrols. Sergeant Norris controlled air support for 34 troops-in-contact situations, defeating the enemy and surgically striking high value targets. As a close air support expert, he organized over 300 air asset requests, de-conflicted 50 support and artillery missions, and directed counter-fire and anti-improvised explosive devise missions, ensuring the Army units were free to move.
 Name: Ulla Strömberg
Duty Title: Aerospace Medical Technician Journeyman
Organization: 99th Medical Operations Squadron, Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada
Home of Record: Manhattan, Kansas
Senior Airman Ulla Strömberg provided care for over 400 patients a month while maintaining an ultra-efficient schedule. She reviewed over 160 records in short order to ensure a 97 percent medical readiness. While deployed in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM to Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan, she recovered 84 post operative patients, trained numerous staff members in 37 skill sets for emergency room operations and oversaw the dining facility health program. As shift leader, Airman Strömberg aided in over 1,200 admissions, 15 surgeries and 500 critical aeromedical evacuation missions.
 Name: Raven S. Taylor
Duty Title: Aerospace Medical Technician Journeyman
Organization: 354th Medical Operations Squadron, Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska
Home of Record: Blackshear, Georgia
Senior Airman Raven S. Taylor served, on numerous occasions, in the role of a noncommissioned officer. She oversaw more than 650 preventive health assessments during a 50 percent reduction in personnel and mentored numerous first-term airmen to ensure personnel readiness. She supervised an infectious control program and revamped the inspection program, which resulted in zero infections for 18,000 patient visits. Airman Taylor worked over 1,000 hours of ambulance service, assisted with 20 minor surgeries and managed 78 pieces of equipment, saving $25,000 and ensuring no appointments were lost. She led one of the clinic’s cancer screening programs and ensured that the 250 patients were well informed. Additionally, her medical skills were critical in saving the life of a gun-shot victim.
The AFA is a 501(c)(3), nonprofit organization promoting public understanding of aerospace power and the pivotal role it plays in the security of the nation. AFA has over 200 chapters nationally and internationally representing 120,000 members.
Learn more about AFA! Follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
Return to AFA Press Releases
|
