CHARLESTON AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. –
Editor's note: The Airlift Dispatch will recognize additional award winners as names are released in later editions.
The year 2007 proved to be a year of noted success for Team Charleston members.
Each year, Air Mobility Command Public Affairs recognizes its top performers throughout the command's wing-level public affairs offices.
AMC public affairs recently presented members of the 437th Public Affairs Office with a number of command-level awards.
These award winners will now compete against other Airmen and public affairs offices from around the Air Force for Air Force-level awards.
The following public affairs members were presented the 2007 AMC Public Affairs Awards for Communication Excellence and the Annual Media Awards in their respective categories. Award package highlights follow:
Capt. Christopher Moore of the 437th Airlift Wing Public Affairs Office was awarded the AMC Public Affairs Director's Communication Excellence Award in the Outstanding Communication Company Grade Officer category. Captain Moore produced more than 20 front page headlines in his first 60 days as chief of the public affairs office and $1.3 million in free television and print media. He also landed national reporting of Airmen on CNN Headline News, The Today Show and "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire." The Outstanding Communication Company Grade Officer Award is presented to the individual who displays outstanding leadership and management in planning and executing communication efforts.
Airman 1st Class Melissa White was awarded 1st Place in the News Category.
Senior Airman Samuel Hymas was awarded 1st Place in the Sports Category.
Senior Airman Nicholas Pilch was awarded 1st Place in the Arts & Graphics Category, 1st Place in the News Photograph Category, 1st place in the Feature Photograph Category, 1st Place in the Portrait & Personality Category and 2nd Place in the Pictorial Photograph Category.
Staff Sgt. April Quintanilla was awarded 2nd Place in the Picture Category.
The 437th Airlift Wing Public Affairs Office was awarded the Best Overall Communication Program in AMC award for creating innovative communications programs, which were designed to educate the local community and keep Team Charleston informed. While facing Department of Defense-directed manning cuts and a public affairs organizational restructure, the 437 AW Public Affairs Office was able to maintain a high-operations tempo and continue to effectively accomplish its primary mission.
The 437 AW Public Affairs Office was also awarded the Best Innovative Program in AMC Award for embracing the fundamentals of Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st Century, initiating new and innovative approaches to accomplishing their mission while working smarter with fewer people and maintaining a high-operations tempo. The public affairs office created communications and volunteer bureaus to identify and train available Airmen from around the base to assist them in accomplishing their mission. These initiatives have been effective tools in educating the public about the mission of the 437 AW and garnered key community support while developing long-lasting relationships with community partners.