2007 Chaplain Service Award winners announced Published May 8, 2008 BOLLING AIR FORCE BASE, D.C. (AFPN) -- The chief of Air Force chaplains has announced the winners of the annual Air Force Chaplain Service Awards program for 2007. Winners were recognized in individual categories for both active and Reserve components, and Airmen at three chapels earned recognition as the Chaplain Service's most outstanding chapel teams. Chaplain (Maj. Gen.) Charles C. Baldwin hosted individual winners at an awards luncheon here earlier this month. Senior Airman Marcus McCall of Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, took home the Richard C. Schneider Award as the Chaplain Service's outstanding active-duty chaplain assistant Airman. Staff Sgt. Lance Tressler of Schriever AFB, Colo., won the Charles R. Meier Award as the outstanding active-duty chaplain assistant non-commissioned officer. Master Sgt. James Mitchell of Barksdale AFB, La., received the Gerald Cullins Award, presented to the outstanding active-duty chaplain assistant senior non-commissioned officer. Chaplain (Capt.) Onyema Okorie of Geilenkirchen Air Base, Germany, earned the Edwin R. Chess Award as the outstanding company-grade chaplain. Four individuals gained special recognition as winners of the prestigious Spirit of the Four Chaplains Award. This award is presented each year to members of the Chaplain Service community who best represent the selfless service and religious diversity embodied by the legendary World War II chaplains of the U.S. Army transport ship USAT Dorchester. This year's winners were Chaplain (Maj.) Henry Close from Ramstein AB, Germany; retired Chief Master Sgt. Gregory Copeland from Hurblurt Field, Fla.; Mr. Wilton Beam from Sheppard AFB, Texas; and Mrs. Iva Helf from Scott AFB, Ill. In the Reserve component, Master Sgt. Dionicio Gutierrez of the 435th Airlift Wing at Lackland AFB, Texas, won the Citizen Airmen Award as the Reserve's outstanding chaplain assistant. Chaplain (Capt.) Ken Vilardi of the 919th Special Operations Wing at Eglin AFB, Fla., was named the outstanding Reserve chaplain. Team awards were presented to the most outstanding active-duty chapel organizations in three categories, based on size of the base population served. Lackland AFB's 37th Training Wing chapel team won the Charles I. Carpenter Award as the Chaplain Service's outstanding large chapel organization. The 436th Airlift Wing chapel team at Dover AFB, Del., was a repeat winner in the medium base category by receiving the Terrence P. Finnegan Award. The Robert P. Taylor Award for the best small base chapel organization went to the 319th Airlift Wing chapel team at Grand Forks AFB, N.D. The Air Force Chaplain Service Awards program is designed to recognize, reward and promote excellence throughout the Air Force Chaplain Service. Individual awards are presented based on leadership and job performance, community involvement and significant self-improvement and are judged by a board of representatives outside the Chaplain Service. Team awards are judged by non-Chaplain Service members as well and recognize the impact on wing mission in addition to management, training, ministries and programs offered. The Spirit of the Four Chaplains Award recognizes sacrificial service and respect for religious diversity and is judged by a special board of senior Chaplain Service leaders. Comment on this story (comments may be published on Air Force Link) View the comments/letters page