AFA Honors 2025 Outstanding Airmen of the Year 

National Harbor, Md. — The Air & Space Forces Association (AFA) proudly recognized the 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year (OAY) at the 2025 Air, Space & Cyber Conference for their exceptional dedication, service, and achievements. 

AFA established the OAY program in 1956 to honor the hard work and professionalism of the Air Force’s enlisted force. Each year’s recipients demonstrate superior leadership, exemplary job performance, community involvement, and personal achievement over the preceding 12 months. 

“Each of these 12 Airmen embodies the best of our enlisted force — courage, innovation, and selfless dedication to service. Their achievements reflect not only their individual excellence but also the strength and resilience of the Air Force and Space Force they represent. AFA is proud to honor them and share their stories as an inspiration to Airmen, Guardians, and Americans everywhere,” said Lt. Gen. Burt Field, USAF (Ret.), AFA President & CEO. 

Airman Category 

Senior Airman Roman Bereguta: 
A Financial Accounting Technician with the 21st Comptroller Squadron at Peterson SFB, Colo., Bereguta performed duties far above his grade, filling an E-6-level role to lead a team that validated a $4.8 billion budget supporting 23 bases. His excellence earned him Senior Airman Below-the-Zone selection. During a 189-day deployment, he served as a trilingual interpreter for senior leaders, enabling the transfer of $10 billion in U.S. weapons to Ukraine—protecting 43 million lives and safeguarding $8 billion in assets. As NATO SOF’s sole linguist on their first deployment to Ukraine, he translated 60 pages of top-secret transmissions. He also completed his CCAF degree and several PME courses while helping raise over $2,000 in support of refugee aid efforts. 

Senior Airman Amal Djezzar: 
A Contract Specialist with the 99th Contracting Squadron at Nellis AFB, Nev., Djezzar excelled in a senior noncommissioned officer-level role during 50 percent manning, executing 48 critical actions worth $6 million and earning promotion Below-the-Zone. Deployed for Operation Spartan Shield, she revamped Saudi customs forms, boosting bomber task force mission efficiency by 90 percent across 75 targets. She transitioned ACC’s largest medical contract to the Defense Health Agency, impacting 12,000 personnel and 330,000 beneficiaries while managing a $245 million portfolio without service disruption. Leveraging her MBA and multilingual skills, she partnered with the Royal Saudi Air Force’s Chief Master Sergeant to lead an all-female workforce initiative and launched Prince Sultan Air Base University’s first Arabic course, saving $150,000 in tuition costs. 

Senior Airman Eleanor R. Warren: 
A Geospatial Intelligence Analyst with the 192nd Intelligence Squadron at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va., Warren supported 94 missions during a deployment to Japan, producing 302 imagery reports and 87 analytical products for the U.S.-Australia-Japan intelligence cell. She pioneered a cross-classification solution enabling first-ever tracking of vessels violating UN sanctions on North Korea and translated Japanese recognition guides to strengthen partner interoperability. Warren also supported four State Department engagements with Sudanese and Libyan leaders, advancing diplomatic security and counter-terrorism goals. Beyond duty, she organized a 120-member multinational lacrosse team and founded the base’s first youth lacrosse team. 

Noncommission Officer Category

Staff Sergeant Matthew C. Sanders: 
The Explosive Ordnance Disposal Equipment NCOIC for the 19th Civil Engineering Squadron at Little Rock AFB, Ark., Sanders managed $15.2 million in equipment and accounts while leading 57 off-base responses that earned multiple wing awards. During a 205-day deployment, he led four joint exercises with Naval Special Warfare units and, following a deadly drone strike, conducted post-blast analysis that led to POTUS-directed strikes on 86 high-value targets. He eliminated a 174-case backlog at the Army forensics lab, processed over 2,500 Iranian weapons, and updated terrorist exploitation tactics DoD-wide. Off duty, he volunteered to build a childcare center and facilitated peer counseling for his team. 

Staff Sergeant Lucas K. Shappell: 
An Explosive Ordnance Disposal Journeyman with the 934th Civil Engineering Squadron at Minneapolis-St. Paul ARS, Minn., Shappell applied his Naval Warfare experience to lead advanced close-quarters battle training for 11 personnel. He advised Kosovo Security Forces during an unexploded ordnance response, bolstering regional security and interoperability. He developed threat ID training for federal agents, qualified 120 allied members during a humanitarian mine action mission, and corrected 15 flaws for the U.S. Forest Service, avoiding major R&D costs. He also volunteered with the sheriff’s department, aiding in the recovery of a submerged vehicle tied to criminal activity. 

Technical Sergeant Jamie A. Gardner: 
Retention Office Manager for the 190th Force Support Squadron at Forbes Field ANG Base, Kan., Gardner resolved a nine-month financial backlog, recovering more than $600,000 in payments. She enabled the flawless deployment of 95 joint personnel and 24.4 tons of cargo across five AORs, earning a Meritorious Service Medal and recognition as the 2025 Kansas ANG Outstanding NCO of the Year. Gardner created a new Ready Airman Training Rodeo curriculum, training 410 members with a 95 percent completion rate while securing $160,000 in resources. She also organized 82 events supporting Airman fitness, raised $1,500 for Mothers Against Drunk Driving, and established a statewide awareness day on impaired driving. 

Technical Sergeant Selina Ortega: 
A Master Military Training Instructor with the 433rd Training Squadron at JBSA-Lackland, Texas, Ortega educated 280 civic leaders on the 37th TRW mission and, as Curriculum Review Chair, optimized trainee allocations—raising participation by 12 percent. She launched the “Ask an MTI” program, aligning 64 instructors to reduce trainee attrition by 23 percent. Filling a critical executive assistant role, she stabilized workloads for 600 instructors and improved the Master MTI certification process, increasing certifications by 4 percent. Ortega also created an episode for the “Warhawk Podcast,” reaching 1,200 Airmen and improving morale and mental health. 

Technical Sergeant Brandon L. Vazquez: 
A Fuels Quality Compliance Section Chief with the 325th Logistics Readiness Squadron at Tyndall AFB, Fla., Vazquez led 45 Airmen in five joint exercises, delivering 8 million pounds of fuel and generating 1,700 sorties across 14 units. He used Lean Six Sigma skills to revamp 11 fuel programs, raising fleet readiness from 32 to 86 percent in one week. He pioneered hot refuel ops with the 95th Fighter Squadron, certifying 15 Airmen and cutting jet regeneration time by 75 percent. He also became the first Airman to complete the Navy’s “Chief Season,” earning Navy Chief designation. He capped the year by leading the Wing’s Airpower Leadership Academy. 

Senior Noncommissioned Officer Category

Master Sergeant Ryan B. Girard: 
A Professional Military Education Instructor at the Mathies NCO Academy, Keesler AFB, Miss., Girard served as E-8 Deputy Commandant, developing PME curriculum tiers and certifying 26 Development Advisors across five MAJCOMs. He led an International Affairs team to the Middle East, delivering a mission command symposium to 32 allied nations, and taught the UAE’s first female-integrated PME course. As interim Senior Enlisted Leader, he shaped a $52 million cyber range upgrade impacting 27,000 students. He also launched Keesler’s first blood donor site, rallying 72 volunteers and expediting lifesaving blood to 21 partner nations. 

Master Sergeant Jurgen H. Kuse: 
A Direct Accessions Manager at the Air Reserve Personnel Center, Buckley SFB, Colo., Kuse overhauled training protocols, cutting on the job training by 83 percent and commissioning 1,700 officers. He trained 134 recruiters and leaders, leading to 223 accessions and helping AFRC reach 101 percent end strength for the first time in two years. Supporting Chief of Staff of the Air Force Gen. David Allvin’s “Generate Readiness” initiative, he reduced Reserve Muster pay delays by 90 percent for 1,400 attendees. As ARPC Top III Vice President, he revitalized the Star Performer Award and launched professional writing courses to enhance enlisted development. 

Master Sergeant Aimee F. Pacas: 
As Chief of Information Protection for the 110th Wing at Battle Creek ANG Base, Mich., Pacas led a revolutionary childcare beta test, hosting the Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force to demonstrate results that scaled across the ANG. She overhauled her wing’s security policies, built an information protection program, and contributed to an “Effective” Unit Inspection rating. Selected as the CMSAF’s Special Projects Officer, she managed a $10,000 budget and led 46 volunteers during a leadership transition. As Anti-Terrorism Program Manager, she chaired a threat working group safeguarding 950 Wing members. Handpicked for the First Sergeant 2.0 Course, she authored 36 blocks of instruction, standardizing training for 863 First Sergeants across the Air Force. 

Master Sergeant James B. Vetter, Jr.: 
An Action Officer at HQ Air Mobility Command, Scott AFB, Ill., Vetter led AMC’s counter-drone initiative, fielding 24 systems protecting $300 billion in assets and 1 million people across nine combatant commands. He coordinated crisis response for the Israel-Hamas conflict, U.S. withdrawal from Niger, and Haiti unrest, enabling movement of 15.4 million pounds of cargo, 1,700 personnel, and $60 million in relief. Vetter pioneered AMC’s first organic cargo aircraft counter-drone capability, securing $332,000 in funding. He also led volunteer events that raised more than $50,000 for outreach programs while earning his master’s in leadership and inspiring his team to complete 228 credits and six degrees. 

About AFA 

The Air & Space Forces Association is an independent, non-profit 501(c)3 association dedicated to advocating for investment and support for the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Space Force, and for supporting Airmen, Guardians, and their Families. Founded in 1946, AFA is the single largest entity of its kind focused on air and space power. With more than 130,000 members and 200 chapters spread around the world, our mission is to promote dominant U.S. Air and Space Forces as the foundation of a strong National Defense; to honor and support Airmen, Guardians, and their Families; and to remember and respect the enduring heritage of the Air and Space Forces.