CHARLESTON AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. –
Editor's note: The Airlift Dispatch will recognize additional award winners as names are released in later editions.
Six Charleston AFB personnel have been selected as the best in their specialty by Air Mobility Command for 2007.
These individuals will now compete for Air Force Level awards. Highlights of their award packages follow:
Senior Airman Dennison Collard and Airman 1st Class Rory Nowosielski of the 16th Airlift Squadron were awarded the Cheney Award for 2007 for their quick thinking and immediate action that saved the life of an aerial port specialist during an aircraft off-loading accident at a forward deployed location. Racing to the scene after the specialist became pinned between two K-loaders, both Airmen expertly performed basic first aid, stabilizing the situation until medical personnel were able to arrive on scene.
Staff Sgt. Zentra Choice of the 437th Mission Support Squadron was chosen as the Airman Leadership School Instructor of the Year. Sergeant Choice selflessly performed flight chief and seminar instructor duties simultaneously when manning dropped to 50 percent. She ensured training for the 36 students was not interrupted. Also, as the test control officer and being accountable for Air Force level testing material, she ensured 288 tests were administered error free.
Senior Master Sgt. Phillip Easton of the 437th Maintenance Group was named the 2007 Lt. Gen. Leo Marquez Maintenance Supervisor Manager of the Year. Sergeant Easton led the 437 MXG Quality Assurance flight to receive an "outstanding" during an AMC Logistics Standardization and Evaluation Program inspection. He also validated 17 time compliance technical order kitproofs; and he saved 10 percent of maintenance requirements, which gave the Tanker Airlift Control Center 365 additional flying hours for the Global War on Terror.
Todd Martin of the 437th Civil Engineer Squadron was named Outstanding Civil Engineer Manager of the Year. Mr. Martin oversaw $94 million in airfield projects, which included $7.5 million for repairs currently underway to Taxiway C, $30 million for the planned replacement of Runway 03/21 this September, and the design of $51 million in repairs to Runway 15/33 slated for fiscal years 2011 and 2012. He was able to receive approval for these projects through close coordination with AMC for funding and the Federal Aviation Association for design criteria. The sum of his efforts had a huge impact on continuing the mission and garnering funds to execute the work.
Staff Sgt. William Mallory of the 437th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron was named Air Force Education and Training Manager of the Year. Sergeant Mallory was the first choice for the wing's largest training program, where he managed seven flights and 32 work centers that included 10 Air Force Specialty Codes. He also identified 250 errors on the special certification roster. He corrected the discrepancies and ensured compliance of critical maintenance tasks.
Jessica Lovette of the 437th Maintenance Operations Squadron was awarded the Air Force Education and Training Manager Award. Ms. Lovette was the key liaison for Australian and Canadian Royal Air Forces in preparing the countries for delivery of C-17s and coordinated Seasoning training for 30 individuals.
The following organizations received AMC and Air Force level awards:
Air Force Large Terminal of the Year: 437th Aerial Port Squadron
AMC Air Freight Flight of the Year: 437 APS
AMC Air Terminal Operations Flight of the Year: 437 APS
AMC Aerial Port Fleet Service Flight of the Year: 437 APS
AMC Manpower and Organization for Profession Excellence Awards, Small Flight of the Year: 437 MSS