Honors go to top civilian, military and industry leaders during the Air Force Association 1999 National Convention and Aerospace Technology Exposition held September 13-15 at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel in Washington, D.C.

W. Stuart Symington Award

The most outstanding civilian contributions in the field of National Security
The Honorable F. Whitten Peters, Secretary of the Air Force
For his superb leadership as Secretary of the Air Force. Secretary Peters has been a staunch champion of the Air Force on Capitol Hill and has fought for quality of life improvements and high priority modernization programs. He has developed an outstanding rapport with all the men and women on the Air Force team.

H.H. Arnold Award

The most outstanding military contributions in the field of National Security
Lt. Gen. Michael C. Short, Commander, Allied Forces Southern Europe, NATO
For commanding the air campaign during Operation Allied Force. General Short oversaw a complex, politically constrained air operation that included 78 days of combat and over 35,000 operational sorties. Remarkably, there were no combat casualties. The campaign forced the Serbian regime to accede to NATO terms.

John R. Alison Award

The most outstanding contributions to National Defense by an industrial leader
Dr. Sam B. Williams, Chairman and CEO, Williams International Company, Walled Lake, MO
For pioneering work in aircraft propulsion, including developing the world’s smallest fan-jet engine and the turbofan engine for the nuclear capable and conventional air launched cruise missiles. AFA salutes Dr. Williams’ technical and management expertise.

David C. Schilling Award

The most outstanding contributions in the field of Flight
509^th Bomb Wing, Whiteman AFB, MO
For outstanding success flying the first combat B-2 missions as part of Operation NOBLE ANVIL in the Kosovo conflict. The unit clearly demonstrated the effectiveness of the B-2's long-range, precision all-weather capability and lethality. These inaugural operational missions represented a qualitative leap in military capability and played a key role in ending the Serbian regime’s resistance to NATO’s demands.

Dr. Theodore von Karman Award

The most outstanding contributions in the field of Science and Engineering
Air Force Research Laboratory
For continued innovative re-engineering, in the face of severe budget pressures. AFRL has demonstrated its commitment to providing high quality technological support to the war fighter. This has included teaming with industry, the military customer, and academia and increased use of industrial research capabilities.

Gill Robb Wilson Award

The most outstanding contributions in the field of Arts and Letters
1^st Combat Camera Squadron, Charleston AFB, SC
For the outstanding work of its still photographers and videographers who acquire, transmit, and exploit near real-time still and motion imagery to document operations and support commanders at all levels. AFA salutes these highly skilled photographers who provide superb visual data used in operational decision making, operational reporting, collateral intelligence, and psychological operations and document the historical record during peacetime and wartime operations.

Hoyt S. Vandenberg Award

The most outstanding contributions in the field of Aerospace Education
Detachment 2, USAF Air Ground Operations School, Ft. Irwin, CA
For outstanding performance as the airpower training specialists at the United States Army’s National Training Center, Fort Irwin, California. They developed and executed an exceptional curriculum that provides Army brigade commanders and staff the knowledge to fully integrate close air support and other air operations into effective joint operations. More than 40,000 soldiers annually benefit from the professionalism, realistic training and superb expertise of the men and women of the Detachment. AFA salutes these advocates of air power who set the highest standard for training excellence.

Thomas P. Gerrity Award

The most outstanding contributions in the field of Logistics Management
Lt. Col. Marilee A. Molk, Commander, 3d Equipment Maintenance Squadron, Elmendorf AFB, AK
For strong leadership, superior performance and dedication to duty while assigned as Commander, Third Equipment Maintenance Squadron, Third Wing, Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska. Her extraordinary leadership as commander of the largest squadron in the Third Logistics Group positioned her people and resources on the front line of combat air forces, as evidenced by their “Excellent” rating during the 1998 Headquarters Pacific Air Forces Unit Compliance Inspection. Colonel Molk’s superb leadership skills directly contributed to her squadron earning an outstanding two out of three Third Wing “Best Practice” program inspection comments from the Inspector General. Colonel Molk has rendered outstanding service to the logistics community, the Air Force, and the nation.

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