Air Force officials name 2009 public service award winners Published March 23, 2010 By 1st Lt. Gina Vaccaro McKeen Air Force Personnel Center Public Affairs RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (AFNS) -- Air Force officials here recently announced the four Air Force winners and nominees for the 2009 Government Employees Insurance Company Public Service awards. Jeffery Hikes of Barksdale Air Force Base, La., James Ratliff of Scott AFB, Ill., Bill James of Lackland AFB, Texas, and Norman Morrisette of Scott AFB are the four Air Force winners who will go on to compete against winners chosen by each service branch for the 2009 GEICO Public Service Awards. The annual GEICO Public Service Awards recognize civilian federal employees who have served others and brought credit to the federal service through their efforts in substance abuse prevention and treatment, fire prevention and safety, physical rehabilitation, and traffic safety and accident prevention. The Air Force nominee in the category of Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment is Mr. Hikes, the Drug Demand Program manager for the 2nd Medical Group. He provided drug abuse awareness, prevention and deterrence training to more than 75,000 on-base and local community residents and drug abuse prevention classes for 275 ROTC and 505 Civil Air Patrol cadets. Additionally, Mr. Hikes developed secure testing protocols for three geographically separated units which prevented errors. He also provided outreach services to more than 5,500 students in the local community. He was honored with the 2006 Secretary of Defense 17th Annual Community Drug Awareness Award and the 2008 Outstanding Air Force Civilian Program Specialist of the Year award. Mr. Ratliff is the Air Force nominee in Fire Prevention and Safety. He is a logistics management specialist. He earned the award for his volunteer work with the Troy Fire Department out of Troy, Ill. where he served more than 300 hours as a volunteer firefighter. Mr. Ratliff also served as the president of the Troy Firefighter Association where he directed the fundraising efforts of 10 committees who organized morale and welfare and educational activities for 15,000 residents in support of National Fire Safety Prevention programs. The Air Force winner for Traffic Safety and Accident Prevention is Mr. James, the Traffic Safety Program manager for the 37th Training Wing. He trained more than 25,000 students as a traffic safety instructor and a Motorcycle Safety Foundations rider coach. He also conducted motorcycle classes for the base, the state of Texas, and the Harley Davidson Rider's Edge program. Additionally, Mr. James developed a motorcycle and safety Web site, which was noted as one of the best sites of its kind in the Air Education and Training Command. Furthermore, he led the creation of AETC's first sport bike course. Mr. James also served as president of the local Green Knights Motorcycle Club. Mr. Morrisette is a joint mobility officer for the operations and plans directorate at U.S. Transportation Command. He is the Air Force winner in the Physical Rehabilitation category. As a volunteer pilot for the Wings of Hope medical relief and air transport program from Jan. 1 through Dec. 31, 2009, Mr. Morrisette provided transportation to health care appointments for the needy. He supported 19 missions and contributed 91 flight hours of air transportation services for physically limited children and adults from the Midwest. GEICO will select winners in each category from all nominees submitted by each of the military services. The winners will be honored at a ceremony in Washington, D.C. Each of the Air Force winners is authorized the Air Force Recognition Ribbon lapel pin. For more information on these or other Air Force awards, visit the Air Force Personnel Center personnel services Web site or call the Air Force's 24/7 Total Force Service Center toll-free at 800-525-0102.