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 2007 Air Mobility Command award winners prove that Team Charleston is made up of some of the best Airmen and civilians in the command.
These award winners will now compete against other Airmen and civilians from around the Air Force for Air Force level awards. Highlights of their award packages follow:
Senior Airman Philip King of the 437th Security Forces Squadron was awarded the 2007 Air Force Sergeants Association William H. Pitsenbarger Award for his heroic actions, which were instrumental in eliminating an estimated 25 insurgents and saving the lives of more than a dozen Afghan soldiers and national police. Airman King was a member of the security forces Qalat Provincial Reconstruction Team 10, an international Security Assistance Force in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
Master Sgt. Julie Brannan of the 437th Mission Support Squadron was awarded the Intermediate Family Support Individual Award for her contributions to improving work center operations. She delivered 50 deployment briefings to 1,800 family members preparing them to deal with the stresses of deployment separations. Sergeant Brannan also served as the Assistant Air Force Aid Officer, providing emergency assistance 24 hours a day and distributed more than $94,000 in aid to 110 members.
Floyd Garner of the 437th Maintenance Squadron was awarded the 2007 Air Force Association's Outstanding Civilian of the Year award in the civilian wage employee category for directing daily maintenance activities of 32 active duty and civilian members, splitting 10 work centers and 50 C-17 aircraft. He also authored 40 engineer disposition requests and maintained immediate approval, which saved $800,000 and 2,000 hours of aircraft downtime. Mr. Garner led the completion of 25,000 maintenance repairs and aided in the delivery of 132,000 passengers and 230,000 cargo tons on record for 16,000 missions in support of the Global War on Terror.
Master Sgt. Andrew Dunaway of the 1st Combat Camera Squadron received the Outstanding Senior NCO for Photography/Broadcasting award.
Staff Sgt. John Hoffmann of the 1st Combat Camera Squadron received the Outstanding NCO for Photography/Broadcasting award.
Senior Airman Pablo Jara Meza of the 1st Combat Camera Squadron received the Outstanding Airman for Photography/Broadcasting award.
The following organizations received AMC level awards:
437th Mission Support Squadron was awarded the Outstanding Airman and Family Readiness Flight Award for leading the way in the Department of Defense with joint basing by integrating joint workshops, job fairs and professional development training. The A&FRF provided 100 families with free childcare through the "Give Parents A Break" program as well as organized the Military Spouse Appreciation Night, where through community donations, 67 Team Charleston spouses received a night of pampering.
437th Contracting Squadron:
Outstanding Pricing Team Award: Cheryl Bennett, Jacqueline Brown, Kathy Edenborough and Robert Hood
The following individual is an Air Force level award recipient:
Darryl G. Winters Combat Camera Award; awarded to the top combat cameraman in the Air Force: Staff Sgt. James Harper, 1st Combat Camera Squadron.