Air Force announces annual Public Affairs Achievement Awards Published June 9, 2006 WASHINGTON (AFPN) -- On behalf of Secretary of the Air Force Michael W. Wynne and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. T. Michael Moseley, Col. Michelle Johnson, director of Public Affairs and deputy director of Strategic Communications here, announced the 2005 Public Affairs Achievement Awards.“My heartiest congratulations to all this year’s nominees and recipients,” she said. “These awards recognize your high standards of excellence and the hard work you do every day.” Unit and program award winners are: - Brig. Gen. Harry J. Dalton, Jr., Award for the outstanding PA program supporting the Air Force mission: United States Air Forces in Europe Public Affairs, Ramstein Air Base, Germany. - Large Unit: 18th Wing Public Affairs, Kadena AB, Japan - Small Unit: 39th Air Base Wing PA, Incirlik AB, Turkey - Community Relations Program: 72nd ABW PA, Tinker Air Force Base, Okla. - Media Relations Program: 37th Training Wing PA, Lackland AFB, Texas - Internal Information Program: 95th ABW PA, Edwards AFB, Calif. - Broadcast Operations: Detachment 6, Air Force News Service, Lajes Field, Azores - Best FOA/DRU Public Affairs Program: Air and Space Expeditionary Force Center PA, Langley AFB, Va. - The Secretary of the Air Force/Public Affairs Director's Award for Planned Single Event, Program or Product: 96th ABW PA, Eglin AFB, Fla., for Operation Linc - The SAF/PA Director's Award for Special Achievement in a Crisis Situation: 81st Training Wing PA, Keesler AFB, Miss., for response to Hurricane Katrina - Air Force Public Affairs Special Achievement for Commander Support: Brig. Gen. Rob Kane, 86th Airlift Wing commander, Ramstein AB, Germany Individual award recipients are: - "Best of the Best:" Senior Master Sgt. Stefan Alford, USAFE PA, Ramstein AB. This award, sponsored by the Air Force Public Affairs Alumni Association, recognizes the outstanding officer, civilian, or enlisted person from all nominated bandsmen, broadcasters, and Public Affairs professionals. - Outstanding PA Field Grade Officer: (a) NAF and above: Lt. Col. Michael Pierson, WR-ALC/PA, Robins AFB, Ga. (b) Wing: Lt. Col. Claudia Foss, 81st TW PA, Keesler AFB - Outstanding PA Company Grade Officer: (a) NAF and Above: Capt. David Small, Secretary of Air Force Public Affairs media division (SAF/PAM), Pentagon (b) Wing: Capt. Greg Hignite, 62nd Air Wing PA, McChord AFB, Wash. - Outstanding PA Senior Grade Civilian (GS-12 to GS-15): (a) NAF and Above: Masao Doi, Air Force Space Command PA, Peterson AFB, Colo. (b) Wing: Elizabeth Van Hook, 88 ABW PA, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio - Outstanding PA Intermediate Grade Civilian (GS-9 to GS-11): (a) NAF and above: Jennifer Stephens, SAF/PAM, Pentagon (b) Wing: Oscar Ballardares, 37th TRW PA, Lackland AFB- Outstanding PA entry-level civilian (GS-5 to GS-7): (a) NAF and Above: Catherine Jung, AFSPC PA, Peterson AFB (b) Wing: Tommy Fuller, 49th Fighter Wing PA, Holloman AFB, N.M. - Outstanding PA Senior Noncommissioned Officer: (a) NAF and Above: Senior Master Sgt. Stefan Alford, USAFE PA, Ramstein AB (b) Wing: Senior Master Sgt. Tyler Foster, 21st Space Wing PA, Peterson AFB- Outstanding PA Noncommissioned Officer: (a) NAF and Above: Staff Sgt. Bryan Bouchard, Air Mobility Warfare Center PA, Fort Dix, N.J. (b) Wing: Tech. Sgt. Renee Kirkland, 48th FW PA, Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England- Outstanding PA Airman: (a) Wing: Senior Airman Susan Penning, 20th Fighter Wing PA, Shaw AFB, S.C. (b) Major Command: there were no entries for this category - Outstanding Reserve Component PA Officer: Lt. Col. Ruth Latham, Public Affairs Center of Excellence, Maxwell AFB, Ala. - Outstanding Reserve Component PA Enlisted Airman: Staff. Sgt Jennifer Thibault., 21st AW PA, Peterson AFB - "Ceferina T. Yepez" award for Outstanding Host Nation Employee: Patricia Miyagi, 18th WG PA, Kadena AB- Outstanding Band Officer: Capt Dean Price, U.S. Air Force Band of the Pacific, Yokota AB, Japan - Outstanding Band Senior Noncommissioned Officer: Master Sgt. Richard Beshears, U.S. Air Force Band of the West, Lackland AFB - Outstanding Band Noncommissioned Officer: Staff Sgt. Edward Schubert, U.S. Air Force Band of the Golden West, Travis AFB, Calif. - Outstanding Band Airman: Airman 1st Class Nathan Drabek, U.S. Air Force Band of the Golden West, Travis AFB - Outstanding Broadcast Senior Noncommissioned Officer: Master Sgt. Shawn Sprayberry, Det 15, AFNEWS, Osan AB, Korea - Outstanding Broadcast Noncommissioned Officer: Staff Sgt. Marty Rush, Detachment 6, AFNEWS, Lajes Field- Outstanding Broadcast Airman: Senior Airman Angela Byers, Det 9, AFNEWS, Spangdahlem AB, Germany - Outstanding Contribution to PA Programs: Verla Davis, 48 FW PA, RAF Lakenheath, England