Four earn 2003 Sijan award Published Dec. 18, 2003 RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (AFPN) -- Four airmen are being recognized with the service's 2003 Lance P. Sijan Air Force Leadership Award. The Sijan award annually recognizes senior and junior officer and enlisted airmen who demonstrate outstanding leadership abilities while assigned to organizations at the wing level or below.The 2003 recipients include:Senior officer -- Lt. Col. Robert E. Moriarty commands the 314th Civil Engineer Squadron at Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark. Moriarty led his 350-person squadron in supporting an infrastructure for more than 1,900 base facilities and assets valued at $1.1 billion. He deployed as deputy commander for a mission-support group supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. While deployed, he led a 1,000-person team supporting three separate camps encompassing more than 2,500 coalition and joint forces.Junior officer -- Capt. Christopher P. Larkin is assigned to the 321st Special Tactics Squadron at Royal Air Force Mildenhall, England. Larkin prepared his unit for its first operational readiness inspection in more than three years, resulting in the group earning an excellent rating. He is lauded for displaying outstanding leadership and devotion to duty while engaged in ground operations against enemy forces in Iraq. Larkin also provided exemplary leadership to special tactics personnel while operating in Iraq supporting the U.S. Army's Joint Special Operations Task Force-Viking.Senior enlisted -- Master Sgt. Michael V. Lamonica is assigned to the 24th Special Tactics Squadron at Pope AFB, N.C. He was deployed for a second time to Afghanistan supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. From there, Lamonica planned and executed missions supporting a joint task force as liaison to the Navy component commander. He developed a detailed link-up plan between special operations forces and Army conventional units conducting combat missions against al-Qaida fighters, ensuring smooth coordination on the battlefield. Lamonica is credited with orchestrating the largest squadron deployment in special tactics history supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. During the Iraqi deployment, he led special tactics operators alongside U.S. Army Rangers on a combat parachute jump to seize an enemy airfield.Junior enlisted -- Master Sgt. Christopher R. May is assigned to the 305th Civil Engineer Squadron at McGuire AFB, N.J. As a technical sergeant, he contributed significantly to his wing's successful mission accomplishments. His expertise on heating and air conditioning mechanical systems enabled him to develop maintenance and repair plans, saving more than $200,000 annually. He also planned and executed a five-year predictive infrastructure repair plan for $500,000 in mechanical assets to enhance dormitory quality of life.The Lance P. Sijan award was first given in 1981. It was named in honor of the first Air Force Academy graduate to receive the Medal of Honor. Sijan was shot down over Vietnam on Nov. 9, 1967, and evaded capture for 45 days despite severe injuries. He later died while in a Vietnamese prisoner-of-war camp. Sijan was presented the Medal of Honor posthumously for his heroism.The awards will be presented by the Air Force chief of staff. (Courtesy of Air Force Personnel Center News Service)