AFA honors 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Mitch Gettle
  • Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs
WASHINGTON (AFPN) --  The Air Force's top 12 enlisted Airmen were treated to a gala affair Sept. 24 during the Air Force Association's Air & Space Conference and Technology Exposition here.

Each year, the AFA honors the 12 Airmen at its annual convention in Washington, D.C. Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Rodney J. McKinley presented the awards. He said that each Airman is an outstanding role model for the nation.

""These 12 outstanding Airmen will continue to be great Air Force ambassadors around the world," he said. "And, I'd like to say that I am extremely proud to serve with each and every one of you."

Air Force Vice Chief of Staff General Duncan J. McNabb, the event's keynote speaker, evoked the Airmen's Creed when describing these 12 Airmen.

"You symbolize our proud tradition," General McNabb said. "You symbolize our tradition of honor and legacy and valor. You are our nation's guardian of freedom and justice. You are the sword and shield. You are its sentry and avenger. And you are a wingman, a warrior, and a leader. It has been great to be with you. Congratulations to all of you."

The 12 Airmen are authorized to wear the Outstanding Airman of the Year ribbon and will wear the bronze service star device on the ribbon. The winners also will wear the Outstanding Airman Badge for one year from the date of the formal presentation. They also will serve as members of the AFA's enlisted advisory council for the next year.

The Outstanding Airmen of the Year are:

Staff Sgt. Jonathan C. McCoy is a pararescueman with the 24th Special Tactics Squadron at Pope Air Force Base, N.C. He is a combat-hardened NCO who spent 2006 performing heroically in operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. Sergeant McCoy deployed as a combat search and rescue team leader and was engaged in life-threatening encounters, earning two Bronze Stars, one with valor. He has served as part of a sniper element, as a rescue director for a joint task force in Iraq's volatile Al Anbar province, led rescues involving Navy Seals and Army forces and provided combat search and rescue counsel to senior officers across the joint service spectrum. Sergeant McCoy led a 17-man joint night-combat rescue mission to recover a Blackhawk helicopter crew who crashed into an Iraqi lake.

Staff Sgt. David Orvosh is a combat control journeyman with the 21st Special Tactics Squadron at Pope AFB. His base leaders describe him as a "national treasure" and warrior.  He has had two combat deployments in Afghanistan and Iraq, earning the Bronze Star with valor. Sergeant Orvosh is a certified joint tactical attack controller involved in more than 25 direct assaults, 130 compound raids and the destruction or capture of 100 enemy fighters. He served as the sole Airman attached to a US/Iraqi special forces team. Despite language barriers, he patiently trained Iraq's elite SOF force and fought beside them in places like downtown Baghdad and Sadr City.

Staff Sgt. Geoffrey M. Welsh is a security forces military working dog handler assigned to the 4th Security Forces Squadron at Seymour Johnson AFB, N.C. While deployed to Iraq, he earned the Army Combat Action Badge, among other accolades, for his role in critical K-9 improvised explosive device detection on more than 100 combat missions.  He engaged in a 45-minute firefight against enemy combatants and saved the life of his platoon sergeant who was hit by sniper fire.  Sergeant Welsh was critical in halting enemy activities while deployed. On a single search, he netted 30 rifles, 10 machine guns, 2 IEDs and 15 rocket-propelled grenades. In addition, his entry point searches led to the confiscation of 250 cell phones, more than 1,000 media storage devices, 20 digital cameras and a base map, ensuring the security of the installation and keeping people safe.

Senior Airman Matthew C. Hulsman is a proven combat veteran. As an explosive ordnance disposal Airman from Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska, he was deployed to Afghanistan, earning numerous accolades such as the Army Commendation Medal and 455th Air Expeditionary Wing Airman of the Month.  While deployed, he served on more than 12 combat missions, he helped repel eight Taliban attacks. His expertise led to the location of 72 anti-tank mines, 22 anti-personnel mines and, while under fire, neutralized three IED threats. He also eliminated 25,000 pounds of explosives found in enemy weapons caches. His talents led to a new use of robotics in the field.  He was the first to incorporate a live-feed x-ray on a robot platform and spearheaded a $164,000 upgrade initiative. In addition, he trained 45 contract security members on vehicle IED search techniques.

Master Sgt. Lawrence B. Taylor is an air traffic controller chief controller with the Oregon Air National Guard. He volunteered to deploy to Iraq where he expertly supervised the air traffic control tower at busy Baghdad International Airport. He also worked in the tower at Sather Airbase, Iraq, and was certified on the controls just two days after arrival. While at BIAP, he created an alternate mobile control center providing back-up capability there. His skills directly contributed to more than 4,000 military flights moving more than 20,000 tons of cargo and 100,000 passengers, all with no mishaps. This Citizen Airman used his skills as a controller at Chicago O'Hare International Airport to work directly with Iraqi traffic controllers, ensuring they knew how to operate and manage their towers. His attention to detail and concern for safety led to procuring the critical Baker Life Chute tower escape system. Sergeant Taylor also identified a potential flaw in the emergency response plan, reducing response time 50 percent.

Staff Sgt. Richard W. Rose is an aerial combat photographer with the 1st Combat Camera Squadron at Charleston AFB, S.C. He was awarded the Bronze Star for his actions while deployed to Iraq. He logged 272 mission hours outside the wire. While covering the mission of an explosive ordnance disposal team, his unit came under attack. Sergeant Rose's quick response to return fire helped save lives, all while still documenting the mission and providing key imagery of the event. Sergeant Rose worked in a joint Army 101st Airborne Division unit on 30 air assault missions, capturing 4,000 photographs and eight hours of video for essential strategic purposes. His work also resulted in the evidence needed for the prosecution of al-Qaeda criminals. Sergeant Rose's imagery showcased coalition efforts in civilian print media at home and abroad. His work also was featured on billboards in Iraq.

Staff Sgt. Matthew J. Hefti is an explosive ordnance disposal Airman from Hill AFB, Utah. While deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, he successfully removed 74 improvised explosive devices, enabling 256 convoy missions and was awarded the Army Commendation Medal. Sergeant Hefti was chosen for a month-long mission with the Secret Service to protect the president and his family, preserving critical national security. He led 20 other EOD technicians to clear 700 pieces of unexploded ordnance on a 1.7 million acre range, enabling a Navy SEAL training site. Sergeant Hefti was one of three Airmen selected for the Secretary of Defense's "Why We Serve" tour and conducted eight TV and radio interviews and heralded the Air Force mission in 13 live events. He also narrated the Pentagon Channel's "9/11 Reflections" video.

Tech. Sgt. Jeremy L. Griffin is a station captain with the 45th Civil Engineer Squadron Fire Protection Flight at Patrick AFB, Fla. He was deployed to Balad Air Base, Iraq and ensured not a single dollar was lost to fire during that time. He expertly responded to an emergency involving an MQ-1B Predator, which was redeployed less than 24 hours later. He also treated a wounded Iraqi police officer for bullet wounds, saving his life. Sergeant Griffin led efforts for a new $250,000 fire truck, which was fully tested in less than 16 hours, greatly increasing fire response capability. He manages $3 million in equipment and 18 personnel. In response to a hangar fire, Sergeant Griffin helped save NASA mission assets, salvaging $54.4 million in aircraft and property. He also has been a first-responder to several emergencies, saving one Airman's vision, an entire Humvee crew and evacuated 37 Airmen when he noticed a potential C-130 mishap.

Senior Master Sgt. Ronald A. Colaninno is a security forces Airman and the NCO-in-charge of training for the 514th Security Forces Squadron at McGuire AFB, N.J. He led 112 security forces Airmen while deployed for 186 days to Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. While deployed, he led the capture of armed Taliban suicide bombers who attacked the main gate. He was the convoy commander on a mission that netted more than 140 rockets. Sergeant Colaninno worked closely with Secret Service during the president's first visit to Bagram. In addition, Sergeant Colaninno created a plan that merged Air Force and Army surveillance systems into a unified control center. He also led the site survey for a $1.5 million electronic systems upgrade, ensuring Bagram personnel stayed safe from enemy attacks. He worked with the Army to build a similar joint operations center at Balad AB, Iraq, going so far as to draft facility designs. That center is in operation today.

Senior Airman Linn Aubrey is a medical laboratory Airman with the 59th Laboratory Squadron at Lackland AFB, Texas. She was promoted to E-4 below the zone and was an instrumental part of her unit winning the Air Force-level 2006 Laboratory of the Year Award. She led the 40-person blood processing team to ensure 53 blood shipments to support operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. Airman Aubrey organized 52 blood drives with 16,000 basic military training trainees, supplying 27 percent of the Department of Defense's quota. She's one of only five Airmen certified in DNA assays and ran more than 22,000 tests to safeguard the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility blood supply. She aided in the development of an Air Force "pain management" video, teaching 1.5 million patients how to control pain. She also helped 30 burn victims and amputees get to the burn center for critical care.

Senior Master Sgt. Tammy L. Brangard-Hern is a personnel superintendent with the Air Force Personnel Center at Randolph AFB, Texas. Sergeant Brangard-Hern is the "voice of Airman assignments." Among other programs, she developed the Air Force-wide PBD 720 budget decision action plan. She also partnered with career field managers to blueprint careers for E-9s, ensuring Airmen know what they need to do to become a chief master sergeant. Sergeant Brangard-Hern launched an essential program and prepared Air Force policy to guarantee Airmen their follow-on assignments when they return from overseas duty. She also redesigned the assignment management system to decrease customer search time for vital information by 50 percent. At the Senior NCO Academy, Sergeant Brangard-Hern was the top graduate in her class of 423, earning both the John L. Levitow and the distinguished graduate awards.

Tech. Sgt. Sachiko D. Jones is the lodging manager at the Britannia Inn at RAF Alconbury, England.  While deployed to Ali Base, Iraq, she reengineered the base lodging plan and created accountability for 100 percent of available bed space. She also enabled a plan to reconfigure abandoned trailers into rooms for yearlong deployers. Sergeant Jones orchestrated the first-ever coalition leadership luncheon to feed 52 local community leaders and sheiks. Sergeant Jones hosted a Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty team visit, a critical link for national security. During an operational readiness inspection, her efforts with the mortuary affairs team contributed to an "excellent" rating. Her superb negotiation skills broke a six-month stalemate for a $450,000 facility renovation. 

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