Air Force officials honor 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year Published Sept. 17, 2008 WASHINGTON (AFPN) -- Air Force officials here recognized the service's 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year at an awards dinner Sept. 15 during the Air Force Association's 24th Annual Air & Space Conference and Technology Exposition here. The 2008 award recipients were drawn from 33 people representing major commands, direct reporting units, field operating agencies and Air Staff agencies. The nominees are authorized to wear the Outstanding Airman of the Year Ribbon, while the 12 winners will wear the bronze service star device on the ribbon. The winners will also wear the Outstanding Airman of the Year Badge for one year from the date of formal presentation. The winners are: -- Senior Master Sgt. Donna Goodno from San Diego Air National Guard Station. Sergeant Goodno volunteered to deploy as the maintenance superintendent for the 447th Air Expeditionary Squadron at Baghdad International Airport. She led a 27-person team and was recognized as the Senior NCO of the Month. Despite 35 insurgent attacks on the installation, she ensured there were no communication outages. Her expertise in managing the installation of a $155,000 cable project provided redundant network paths, increasing system reliability. She worked with local air traffic controllers to redesign radios, resulting in a "major increase in flight safety," said Lt. Col. Douglas Hire, her commander. -- Master Sgt. Carla Curry of Randolph Air Force Base, Texas. With nine days notice, Sergeant Curry deployed for 365 days to a provincial reconstruction team in Afghanistan. She served as a truck commander, driver and turret gunner on 20 convoy missions, as well as performed guard duty at an entry control point and observation tower. While in Afghanistan, she oversaw the delivery of more than 500 hygiene kits and community aid to locals. For her work there, she was awarded the Bronze Star. Back home, Sergeant Curry prioritized requirements for permanent change of station moves, saving the Air Force almost $2 million. She also championed deployed Airmen and arranged for 105 care packages to be sent overseas. -- Master Sgt. George Price Jr. of Patrick AFB, Fla. Sergeant Price is the explosive ordnance disposal flight chief at Patrick AFB. While deployed to Kirkuk Air Base, Iraq, he spent more than 900 hours outside the wire, neutralizing 986 improvised explosive devices. He survived two grenade attacks, two rocket attacks, saved a Soldier's life, captured six terrorists and foiled a 400-pound vehicle IED from entering the base. He worked with the Army's 10th Mountain Division and Iraqi Army on identifying IEDs and enemy tactics. He oversaw distribution of more than 1,000 pounds of humanitarian aide after an attack on local Iraqis. He worked directly with the Secret Service to support a presidential visit in Washington and helped NASA with disposal of 32 space shuttle booster motors. He also represented the 45th Space Wing at Hill AFB, Utah, for an EOD team memorial. -- Tech. Sgt. James Caughron of McConnell AFB, Kan. While deployed to Ali Base, Iraq, he won several awards for his efforts in training Iraqi firefighters, administering lifesaving medical care, extinguishing fires in buildings and planes. Sergeant Caughron's actions in responding to aircraft emergencies saved the Air Force millions of dollars. And when there were fumes and smoke aboard the Australian prime minister's plane, Sergeant Caughron initiated the evacuation and ventilation, saving the man's life. -- Tech. Sgt. Earl Covel Jr. from Fort Lewis, Wash. As the only tactical air control party Airmen for special operations missions in Afghanistan, he's been a key member of the joint fight. In 90 days, he participated in 155 classified operations and supported 57 assaults, calling in close-air support to eliminate enemy insurgents with zero collateral damage. While leading a team over hostile terrain, he was instrumental in the capture of three key enemy leaders. He saved 110 Soldiers' lives when he located and spearheaded the demolition of an IED during a patrol. He has also maintained a 4.0 grade point average as he pursues a bachelor's degree. -- Tech. Sgt. Jason Hughes of Elmendorf AFB, Alaska. He led his fellow maintainers in organizing the bed down for the Raptor at Elmendorf AFB. He designed a hot pit operation for the F-22 there, raising sortie generation capability 33 percent. He created a new procedure, eliminating six technical data errors and saved 150 man-hours. Under his supervision, his Airmen attained a 97 percent quality assurance pass rate, ensuring Air Force leaders could rely on the 3rd Wing's F-22s. -- Tech. Sgt. Tammy Shaw of Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio. Sergeant Shaw is NCO in charge of laboratory central operations and a self-aid and buddy care instructor. She's also responsible for medically testing tens of thousands of Airmen a year, and is the infection disease doctor's go-to medical technician. She has a 4.0 toward her bachelor's degree, earned her Community College of the Air Force degree and is a nationally certified lab tech. She volunteers with Habitat for Humanity, Project Linus, Relay for Life and Airmen Against Drunk Driving. -- Staff Sgt. Eric Eberhard of Hill AFB. After Sergeant Eberhard volunteered to deploy to Forward Operating Base Gardez in Afghanistan, this explosive ordnance disposal technician and former Marine put his skills to work. He helped provided EOD support within a 10,000-square-kilometer area to ensure supply lines remained open. After an attack on his convoy, he maneuvered his vehicle and evaded three rocket attacks, then joined the quick response force in repelling enemy combatants. While deployed, he disposed of more than 2,300 pieces of unexploded ordnance. His intelligence reports helped other EOD teams determine enemy tactics to reduce attacks on FOB Gardez. While not deployed, he completed certifications that will help him and the Air Force, such as the combat lifesaver's course; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms investigators course; and the Defense Department hazardous materials first responders course. Sergeant Eberhard also volunteers with a church and the Boy Scouts. -- Staff Sgt. James Weltin of Patrick AFB. Sergeant Weltin is a recruiter with the 333rd Recruiting Squadron. During fiscal 2007, he boosted recruiting 160 percent, ensuring the Air Force had the next generation of Airmen, including three pararescue apprentices and four airborne crypto linguists. While maintaining operations for seven recruiters, he completed two CCAF degrees as well as familiarization courses on Iran, Iraq, Syria and Afghanistan. Sergeant Weltin mentored 25 at-risk youths, chaperoned a high school lock-in, rallied his enlistees to donate blood, and organized a collection for food and school supplies for children in Afghanistan. He currently maintains his record of exceeding recruiting goals for 20 straight months. -- Senior Airman Mary Bullock of Hurlburt Field, Fla. Airman Bullock, a video analyst with the 11th Intelligence Squadron, had 48 hours to get ready for a six-month deployment. She provided full-motion video analysis for combatant commanders and troops on the ground. A reporting procedure she developed to streamline intelligence processes forever changed MQ-1 Predator operations. When an Army helicopter went down, it was her efforts that led to the recovery of the survivors and classified information. Her analysis also led to the kill or capture of 12 high-visibility targets in Iraq. She completed her career development courses ahead of schedule and earned 52 credits toward her CCAF degree. Airman Bullock is also an avid volunteer and regularly spends time at animal shelters, with children from the Boys and Girls Club, and with Airmen Against Drunk Driving. -- Senior Airman Alicia Goetschel from Royal Air Force Mildenhall, England. Airman Goetschel is assigned to the 100th Security Forces Squadron and deployed to Camp Bucca, Iraq. She helped quell 11 riots, locked down prisoners during numerous attacks, transported more than 220 high-risk detainees to Baghdad, suppressed three assaults by inmates, and even located an escape tunnel. At RAF Mildenhall, she ensured force protection measures were met as a pass and identification clerk, authorizing hundreds of vehicle passes a day. She maintained a 4.0 grade-point average toward a criminal justice degree and mentored five fellow Airmen to success on their upgrade training. As leader of the dormitory council, she transformed the worst dorm on base to the best, winning an award as dorm of the quarter. -- Senior Airman Shawn Ryan (now staff sergeant) of Sheppard AFB, Texas. Airman Ryan, a security forces patrolman, volunteered to go back to Iraq for another 365 days shortly after returning from a deployment to Joint Base Balad, Iraq. At Sheppard AFB, he trained Airmen on weapons, vehicles, cardiopulmonary resuscitation techniques and what to expect on their deployments. While in the field, Airmen Ryan located numerous IEDs on both day and night patrols, leading him to win Air Education and Training Command's Billy Jack Carter Award for most significant contribution to protecting Airmen. On one of his 197 combat patrols, he was injured during an attack, but continued to man his weapon until the attack was repelled. Off the battlefield, Airman Ryan spent countless hours training more than 3,000 Iraqi policemen while pursuing a criminal justice degree. He also donated more than 28 hours of his off-duty time devoted to improving living conditions for Sheppard AFB Airmen. Comment on this story (comments may be published on Air Force Link) View the comments/letters page