AFA aerospace award nominees announced Published July 25, 2011 RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (AFNS) -- Air Force officials selected the following individuals and units as nominees to compete for the Air Force Association Aerospace Awards. The specific category and respective nominees are: Theodore Von Karman Award -- For the most outstanding contribution to national defense in the field of science and engineering relating to aerospace activity by an Air Force military member, a Department of the Air Force civilian, a unit or a group of individuals. -- 59th Test and Evaluation Squadron, Air Combat Command -- Airborne Networking System Program Office, Air Force Materiel Command -- Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center, Det. 5, AFOTEC David C. Schilling Award -- For the most outstanding contribution to national defense in the field of manned flight in the atmosphere or space by an Air Force military member, a Department of the Air Force civilian, a unit or a group of individuals. -- 7th Special Operations Squadron, Air Force Special Operations Command -- Capt. Eric Otto, Pacific Air Forces -- 964th Airborne Air Control Squadron, ACC Gill Robb Wilson Award -- For the most outstanding contribution to national defense in the field of arts and letters, covering a range of activities such as writing, speaking, media relations, sculpting and painting, by an Air Force military member, a Department of the Air Force civilian, a unit or a group of individuals. -- Staff Sgt. Burt Traynor, Air Force Public Affairs Agency -- Tech. Sgt. Nathan Gallahan, ACC -- Capt. Jesse Goolsby, U.S. Air Force Academy Citation of Honor -- for the most outstanding contribution to national defense significantly exceeding standard performance by an Air Force military member, a Department of the Air Force civilian, a unit or a group of individuals. -- 42nd Attack Squadron, ACC -- 550th Special Operations Squadron, Air Education and Training Command -- 5th Maintenance Group, Air Force Global Strike Command -- 645th Aeronautical Systems Squadron Special Projects Team, AFMC -- 1st, 2nd and 3rd Combat Camera Squadrons, AFPAA -- Vincent Fonner, Air Force Personnel Center -- 4th Combat Camera Squadron, Air Force Reserve Command -- 720th Special Tactics Group, AFSOC -- 67th Network Warfare Group, Air Force Space Command -- 621st Contingency Response Wing, Air Mobility Command -- 103rd Maintenance Group, Air National Guard -- Integrated Air Defense Squadron -- National Air and Space Intelligence Center, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance -- Master Sgt. Jerry Brock, PACAF -- 435th Contingency Response Group, U.S. Air Forces in Europe AFA officials will present the awards to the final winners in September at the 2011 Air & Space Conference and Technology Exposition in Washington. Each of the military nominees and members of small teams are authorized to wear the Air Force Recognition Ribbon. Each of the civilian nominees are authorized to wear the Air Force Recognition Lapel Pin. For more information on Air Force recognition programs, visit the Air Force personnel services website. (Courtesy of Air Force Personnel, Services and Manpower Public Affairs)