Officials announce recipients of 2004 PA achievement awards

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WASHINGTON (AFPN) --  Air Force officials have announced the 2004 Air Force public affairs achievement award recipients.

They are:

Winners of the Secretary of the Air Force Office of Public Affairs director’s excellence awards are:

-- Major command category: The Brig. Gen. Harry J. Dalton Jr. Award goes to U.S. Air Forces Europe headquarters at Ramstein Air Base, Germany.

-- Large unit category: 1st Fighter Wing at Langley Air Force Base, Va.

-- Small unit category: 434th Air Refueling Wing at Grissom Air Reserve Base, Ind.

-- Community relations category: 434th ARW.

-- Media relations category: 435th Air Base Wing at Ramstein.

-- Internal information category: U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo.

-- Broadcast operations category: Air Force News Agency’s Detachment 10 at Yokota AB, Japan.

Best Headquarters-Level PA Program: Air Force Personnel Center at Randolph AFB, Texas.

The Secretary of the Air Force Director's Award for special achievement for planned single event, program or product:

-- 90th Space Wing at F.E. Warren AFB, Wyo., for the 0-0-1-3 responsible drinking program.

-- USAFE for participation in joint force air component commander exercise Austere Challenge 04.

The SAF/PA Director's Award for special achievement in a crisis situation:

-- 374th Air Wing at Yokota AB for response to fuel spill.

-- 45th Space Wing at Patrick AFB, Fla., for response to hurricanes Frances and Jeanne.

Air Force public affairs special achievement for commander support -- Col. Evan Hoapili with the 90th SW.

PA achievement awards, individual award recipients:

-- Best of the best recognizes the outstanding officer, civilian or enlisted person from all nominated bandsmen, broadcasters and public affairs professionals. The recipient is selected on the basis of professional excellence and significant contributions to the air force mission. This year's recipient is Lt. Col Roger Murray with the Air Force Recruiting Service at Randolph AFB.

Outstanding PA field grade officer:

-- Headquarters level: Lt. Col. Michele Dewerth, AFPC.

-- Wing: Colonel Murray.

Outstanding PA company grade officer:

-- Headquarters level: Capt. David Faggard, Pacific Air Forces headquarters at Hickam AFB, Hawaii.

-- Wing: Capt. Phillip Ulmer, 435th ABW.

Outstanding PA senior grade civilian (GS-12 to GS-15):

-- Headquarters level: Wendy Varhegyi, SAF/PA at the Pentagon.

-- Wing: Michael Estrada, Air Warfare Center at Nellis AFB, Nev.

Outstanding PA intermediate grade civilian (GS-9 to GS-11):

-- Headquarters level: Mark Voorhis, Air Mobility Command headquarters at Scott AFB, Ill.

-- Wing: Jon Scudder, 3rd Wing at Elmendorf AFB, Alaska.

Outstanding PA entry level civilian (GS-5 to GS-7):

-- Headquarters level: Stefan Bocchino, Air Force Space Command headquarters at Peterson AFB, Colo.

-- Wing: Kristen Speck, 460th SW at Buckley AFB, Colo.

Outstanding PA senior noncommissioned officer:

-- Headquarters level: Master Sgt. Randy Mitchell, AFPC.

-- Wing: Master Sgt. Deborah Aragon, 55th Wing at Offutt AFB, Neb.

Outstanding PA noncommissioned officer:

-- Headquarters level: Master Sgt. Mona Ferrell, USAFE.

-- Wing: Tech. Sgt. Tonya Keebaugh, 53rd Wing at Eglin AFB, Fla.

Outstanding PA Airman:

-- Wing: Senior Airman Vanessa Walsh, 55th Wing.

Outstanding reserve component PA officer: Maj. Richard Sater, PACAF headquarters.

Outstanding reserve component PA enlisted Airman: Master Sgt. David Byron, AFNEWS’ Det. 16 at Washington.

"Ceferina T. Yepez" award for outstanding host-nation employee: Kyoko Hasegawa, 35th FW at Misawa AB, Japan.

Outstanding band officer: Maj. Dean Zarmbinski, USAF Band of the West at Lackland AFB, Texas.

Outstanding band senior noncommissioned officer: Master Sgt. Barbara Miller, Band of the U.S. Air Force Reserve at Robins AFB, Ga.

Outstanding band noncommissioned officer: Tech. Sgt. Vincent Marshall, Air Force Band of Flight at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio.

Outstanding band Airman: Staff Sgt. Matthew Erickson, USAF Heartland of America Band at Offutt.

Outstanding broadcast senior noncommissioned officer: Master Sgt. Patrick Sarchet, AFNEWS’ Det. 4 at Ramstein.

Outstanding broadcast noncommissioned officer: Master Sgt. Julie Scott, AFNEWS’ Det. 15 at Osan AB, South Korea.

Outstanding broadcast Airman: Senior Airman Samy Fineman, AFNEWS’ Det. 11 at Camp Butler, Japan.

Outstanding contribution to public affairs programs: Senior Airman Mary Hubbard, 354th FW at Eielson AFB, Alaska.