Air Force secretary presents leadership awards

  • Published
  • By Christine Harrison
  • Air University Public Affairs
MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. (AFPN) --  The secretary of the Air Force presented four recent professional military education graduates with awards for their outstanding leadership May 17 at Maxwell Air Force Base.
 
Secretary Michael W. Wynne presented the Secretary of the Air Force Leadership Awards, which are given annually to recognize a student from the Air Force's top leadership schools.

The recipients were:

-- Col. Brian Killough of Air War College.

-- Maj. Kelly Martin of the Air Command and Staff College.

-- Capt. Michele LoBianco of the Squadron Officer School.

-- Senior Master Sgt. Rebecca Dryden of the Air Force Senior NCO Academy. 

As a leader in the latest graduating Air War College class, Colonel Killough served as class president and mentored younger officers attending Air and Space Basic Course, Squadron Officer School and Air Command and Staff College, while he encouraged others in his class to do the same. The local community also benefited from Colonel Killough's attitude and leadership through his participation with the Horizon's Association. He graduated from AWC May 24. 

Major Martin served as president of her Air Command and Staff College class during the current academic year, and led her team of 571 field grade officers, including international officers, and Department of Defense civilians to a victory of the Air University 60th Anniversary Commander's Trophy. Her leadership also proved vital to 12 students who began their ACSC studies halfway into the year. 

Captain LoBianco attended Squadron Officer School from May to June 2006. She was selected as the No. 1 graduate out of 3,452 students for her initiative and her leadership qualities. She was chosen by her peers as an "Outstanding Contributor" and her team earned "Outstanding Flight" with each member finishing in the top third of the class. 

Superior leadership and knowledge set Sergeant Dryden apart from her Senior NCO Academy class. She was selected as the most outstanding graduate for Class 06-C and the most outstanding student among 2,118 senior NCOs from March 2006 to February 2007.

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