Patriot Wing Airmen haul in more than a dozen command-level awards

A command-wide spotlight from 2017 continues to shine on Airmen with the 439th Airlift Wing, with units here earning more than a dozen Air Force Reserve Command awards.

Outstanding Civil Engineer Unit and Flight Awards:

The AFRC nomination for the Maj Gen Del R. Eulberg Award, which recognizes the unit that achieved the highest degree of excellence in asset management principles, is awarded to the 439th Mission Support Group Installation Support Flight.

AFRC’s nomination for the Maj Gen Robert C. Thompson Resource Excellence Award, which recognizes the unit that achieved the highest degree of resource excellence, is awarded to the 439th MSG Resources Flight.

The MSG Engineering Flight earned the AFRC nomination for the Brig Gen Archie S. Mayes Award, which recognizes the Engineering Flight that most excelled in providing facility products and services of exceptional quality to base customers.

And the MSG Emergency Management Flight earned the Col. Frederick J. Riemer Award, which recognizes the Readiness and Emergency Management Flight that distinguished itself as the year's top performer through sustained superior mission support, exemplary performance, outstanding program management, support of the engineer readiness mission and community involvement.

Air Force Fire Emergency Services Awards:

The AFRC nomination for the Fire Department of the Year, Medium Category: 439th Mission Support Group Fire Emergency Services Flight. This award recognizes the Command's most outstanding medium-size fire department for achieving the highest degree of excellence in mission support and fire protection management.

The AFRC nomination for the Fire Prevention Program of the Year goes to the 439th Mission Support Group, Fire Emergency Services Flight. This recognizes the best fire prevention program for their outstanding achievements and accomplishments in direct support of the mission, regardless of size or location.

The following Individual Awards recognize Airmen who excelled in performance and made outstanding contributions to the AF or DoD mission.

Contingency Response Performer or the year:

Maj. Jessica Rose, 439th Contingency Response Flight
Tech. Sgt. Thomas Rowland III, 439th CRF
Outstanding Logistics Readiness NCO of the Year:
Staff Sgt. Ryan Bator, 439th LRS

Outstanding Logistics Readiness Senior NCO of the Year:

Senior Master Sgt. Charles Carlin, 439th LRS
The Individual Traditional Reservist Awards recognizes individuals who excelled in performance and made outstanding contributions to the AF or DoD mission.

Outstanding Logistics Readiness Traditional Reservist NCO of the Year:

Staff Sgt. Ryan Bator, 439th LRS
Outstanding Communication Excellence Senior NCO:
Master Sgt. (now Senior Master Sgt.) Andrew Biscoe
Outstanding Communication Excellence Airman:
Senior Airman (now Staff Sgt.) Monica Ricci

Information Dominance Award:

Four Airmen from the 439th Communications Squadron have received the 2017 Information Dominance Awards.

The Air Force Reserve Command-wide award recognizes Air Force officers, enlisted, civilian employees, teams, and units for sustained superior performance while providing information dominance and cyberspace operations to Air Force and Department of Defense missions and operations.

Senior Master Sgt. Danita Thibeault, Staff Sgt. Nikki McWhirt, Senior Airman Joshua Slyman, and Senior Airman Sean Gmachowski are this year’s winners from the 439th CS.

McWhirt and Slyman, both knowledge operations managers, received the award for their work both here and overseas. McWhirt received the award for Outstanding Cyber Operations NCO and Slyman was awarded Outstanding Cyber Operations Airman.

As Sharepoint managers at RAF Alconbury, England, McWhirt and Slyman were responsible for controlling access to thousands of documents and websites.

“These actions helped to prevent major security concerns,” said McWhirt. “Auditing Westover’s Sharepoint system and removing unauthorized access is another important task that contributes to cyber-security and information dominance,” said Slyman.

Gmachowski received the award for Outstanding Cyber Systems Airman. Updating radios for all of Westover’s squadrons as well as ensuring emergency response radios were functioning and up to date are what Gmachowski said earned him the award.
Only 13 awards were given AFRC wide. McWhirt said she was proud to have so many Airmen from her squadron as recipients.

“I was honored to hear that four Airmen from the unit won,” said McWhirt. “It’s AFRC wide and there aren’t many given so it’s a real honor.”

These Airmen earned this award through outstanding performance in their field. Their diligence and hard work will ensure that the Air Force maintains superiority in cyberspace.

Editor’s note: Senior Airman Max Goldberg contributed to this story.