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2010

AIR FORCE ASSOCIATIONAir & Space Conference and Technology Exposition

Outstanding Airmen of the Year

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Alliant Techsystems, Inc.

For supporting the Outstanding Airmen of the Year by sponsoring theiractivities, providing each of them with AFA Lifetime Memberships and

printing this program

For supporting the Outstanding Airmen of the Year Reception in theExhibit Hall

e Air Force Associationwishes to express its gratitude for the nancial support provided by

and

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2010

Outstanding Airmen of the Year

Senior Master Sergeant Steven Higgins

Master Sergeant Sarah A. Sparks

Master Sergeant James P. Mogren

Technical Sergeant Stephen R. Hunter, Jr.

Technical Sergeant Anthony G. Graham

Sta Sergeant Kenneth I. Walker, III

Sta Sergeant Robert Gutierrez, Jr.

Sta Sergeant Joseph R. Aton

Sta Sergeant Zully M. Birkbeck

Senior Airman Cheryl A. Moore

Senior Airman Ryan D. Pfeifer

Airman First Class Samuel A. Siewert

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Program

NATIONAL ANTHEM

INVOCATION

Chaplain Major General Cecil R. RichardsonAir Force Chief of Chaplains

MASTER OF CEREMONIES

CMSAF James A. RoyChief Master Sergeant of the Air Force

AWARD PRESENTATIONS

Joseph E. SutterAFA Chairman of the Board

AIR FORCE ASSOCIATIONLIFETIME MEMBERSHIP PRESENTATIONS

Mr. Mark DeYoungPresident and CEO of ATK

ADDRESS

General Carrol H. Howie ChandlerVice Chief of Sta, USAF

MUSICAL PRESENTATION

United States Air Force Band

OUTSTANDING AIRMEN OF THE YEAR RECEPTION

in the Exhibit Hall

* * * *

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Menu

Baby Spinach with Julienne Pears and Apples,Spiced Cashews, St. Pete Blue Cheese

Sherry Wine Vinaigrette

Bread Display

Grilled New York Strip with a Merlot and Mushroom GlazeMaryland Crab Cake with Remoulade

Mushroom RisottoCaramelized Dill Carrots and a Bundle of Asparagus

Pistachio Torte, Dark Chocolate Ganache with Cocoa Crumbles

Menu

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The Awards InceptionEvery year since its 1946 founding, the Air Force Association had been pleading with

Congress to provide adequate pay and allowances for all members of the Armed Forces. In

1956, AFAs convention symposium was on the subject of military manpower, and AFA and

Air Force representatives agreed to highlight the topic by having on hand an outstanding

enlisted person representing each major Air Force command and operating agency.

All major air commands and operating agencies recommended their most outstanding

airmen and the rst group of 19 Outstanding Airmen were honored at AFAs convention.

Tough it was initially meant to be a one-time event, the response to the Outstanding

Airmen was so positive that AFA and Air Force leaders decided the program should be

continued and the United States Air Forces Outstanding Airmen of the Year Award wascreated. It has remained one of the most popular and successful AFA national events over

the past 54 years.

From 1956 through 2009, there have been 751 Outstanding Airmen of the Year. In 1970,

the program changed dramatically by limiting the number of airmen selected each year to

a total of twelve, known as the Te Golden Dozen. wo became Chief Master Sergeants

of the Air Force (CMSAF James M. McCoy and CMSAF Donald L. Harlow). James

McCoy also served as AFAs National President and then Chairman of the Board. As

one would expect, many of the Outstanding Airmen were highly decorated. wo were

recipients of the nations second highest award for valor, the Air Force Cross: A2C Duane

D. Hackney (1968) and Sgt. imothy A. Wilkinson (1994). MSgt. Scott Fales (1993)

and Sgt. Bradley . Reilly (2006) received the Silver Star.

Tis years welve Outstanding Airmen represent more than 264,000 enlisted members of

the Air Force active, Guard and Reserve forces. Tey were chosen from nominations madeby all Air Force commands, separate operating agencies, direct reporting units, Air Force

Reserve and Air National Guard. Te selection board is made up of the Chief Master

Sergeant of the Air Force, a general ocer and selected Major Command command chiefs.

Te Air Force Chief of Sta reviews the selections.

Tese are the criteria for this honor: unique, unusual or outstanding individual involvement

and achievement within the preceding twelve months. Selection considerations included

leadership and job performance in primary duty, signicant self-improvement and base orcommunity involvement.

Te welve Outstanding Airmen are awarded the Outstanding Airman ribbon with the

Bronze Star device and wear the Outstanding Airman badge for one year. Tey also serve

on the Air Force Enlisted Council for one year. AFA congratulates this years distinguished

recipients!

Selection Criteria

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Secretary of the United States Air Force

Congratulations on your selection as one of the Air Forces welve Outstanding

Airmen of the Year for 2010! Tis is a tribute not only to your professionalism,

but to your leadership and devotion to service.

Our Air Force has a rich history and a proud heritage of operations ranging

from peacekeeping and humanitarian assistance to sustained combat and nuclear

deterrence. And todays Airmen are adding to this history daily, operating in Air,Space, and Cyberspace from locations around the globe as part of our Nations

joint team.

onight we honor you and your continuing commitment to integrity, service, and

excellence. As one of the welve Outstanding Airmen of the Year, you represent

the very best of our Air Force and of our 415,000 otal Force enlisted Airmen.

Congratulations on this remarkable achievement and thank you for playing such

a signicant role in making us the worlds nest Air Force.

Michael B. Donley

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Gen. Norton A. SchwartzChief of Staff of the United States Air Force

Congratulations on your selection as one of the welve Outstanding Airmen of the

Year. Tis honor serves as both a reection of your extraordinary accomplishments

to this point, and our condence that you will continue to serve faithfully andwith distinction, always exemplifying the nest qualities of Integrity, Service, and

Excellence.

As your contributions clearly demonstrate, Americas Airmen serving in overseas

contingency and deployed in place operations not only are answering our Nations

call; they are making military history. oday, Americas enlisted service members

increasingly must exercise exceptional judgment in very dicult, highly nuanced

situations; and, they are shouldering more responsibility in commendable fashion,achieving greater results than virtually any enlisted force before. You can all be

proud of your daily eorts that play a signicant role in this unparalleled evolution

of the enlisted corps.

onight, we recognize your outstanding achievements, and inaugurate your year of

service on the Air Force Enlisted Council. You have our enthusiastic support as

you make the most of this unique opportunity to nd ways to improve our Service,

enhance our contributions to the Joint and Coalition team, and ultimately, secureour shared liberty and its many blessings.

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James A. RoyChief Master Sergeant of the Air Force

Congratulations! Being selected as one of our welve Outstanding Airmen of the

Year is a tremendous honor. I join Airmen around the world in saluting you for a

job extremely well done.

I am proud of the combat power our Air Force enlisted Airmen bring the Joint

team, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 52 weeks each yearbut your exceptional

service stands out as an example for all Airmen to follow. Your superb performance

has done a great deal to assure the success of our mission and to uphold the image

of our enlisted Airmen as standard-bearers of military professionalism around the

world.

As we celebrate this momentous milestone in your Air Force career, I look forward

to partnering with you during your term as members of the Air Force Enlisted

Council. As the voice of your fellow Airmen on this important deliberative body,

you will tackle issues aecting our enlisted force and shape decisions that will

aect the strategic path of our Air Force. So tonight, enjoy the recognition you so

richly deserve, and take a moment to reect on the challenges and opportunities

ahead. I wish you and your family great success in the coming year and throughout

your Air Force career.

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Robert Gutierrez, Jr.

Sta Sergeant Robert Gutierrez, Jr., directed and controlled more than 40 close

air strikes and strang runs while under intense enemy re against a well-trained

insurgent force estimated to be 200 strong. He controlled airstrikes and medical

evacuations that eventually led to the successful extraction of all team members

and casualties. Sergeant Gutierrez served 90 days in western Afghanistan before

he was wounded in a battle by aliban forces. After being wounded in the chest

by enemy forces, Sergeant Gutierrez shot and killed the enemy and directed close

air support strikes within 30 meters of his location. He is recovering from his

wounds and serves as a Joint erminal Attack Controller instructor.

Duty Title: Combat Control Craftsman

Organization: 21st Special Tactics Squadron, Pope Air Force Base, North Carolina

Home of Record: Chula Vista, California

Staff Sergeant

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Sta Sergeant Joseph R. Aton deployed for 180 days to a remote forward operating

base in Afghanistan where he directed 27,000 pounds of weapons assistance for

60 troops in contact killing 42 enemy forces. He determined the origin of enemy

re which enabled precise close air support strikes killing 16 additional enemy

forces. Sergeant Aton simultaneously controlled B-1 and MQ-1 systems which

tracked eight improvised explosive device placers resulting in all insurgents being

neutralized. He prepared a response team and controlled an AC-130 during a

successful rescue of an isolated soldier.

Joseph R. Aton

Duty Title: Joint Terminal Attack Controller

Organization: 11th Air Support Operations Squadron, Fort Hood, Texas

Home of Record: Roseville, California

Staff Sergeant

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Sta Sergeant Zully M. Birkbeck is instrumental to the bases $134 million opera-

tions and maintenance budget program execution. She deployed to the Central

Command theater of operations where she oversaw $26 million in funding and

overseas contingency operations guidance. She certied 117 documents worth

$19 million without any errors. Sergeant Birkbeck trained her ight on unsettled

orders and cut the list by 95 percent in 3 months. Te strategy was adopted acrossthe command. She was the Airman Leadership John L. Levitow Award winner

and the Air Education and raining Command Financial Management Airman

of the Year.

Zully M. Birkbeck

Duty Title: Financial Management Journeyman

Organization: 56th Comptroller Squadron, Luke Air Force Base, Arizona

Home of Record: Lazaro Cardenas, Mexico

Staff Sergeant

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Senior Airman Cheryl A. Moore is one of only two trainers for the Multi-Source

Analyst position that have earned the Instructor Rated Ocer certication.

While deployed, she analyzed Predator video enabling compound Hellre strikes.

She warned combat units of imminent threats and protected forces against snip-

ers, improvised explosive devices and ambushes. Sergeant Moore worked outside

her specialty and excelled in combat with minimal training or supervision. She ledintelligence fusion for 120 remotely piloted aircraft missions with 1,300 hours on

targets, giving critical situational awareness for 240 combat operations.

Cheryl A. Moore

Duty Title: Multi-Source Analyst

Organization: 8th Intelligence Squadron (Distributed Ground System-S),

Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii

Home of Record: Portland, Oregon

Senior Airman

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Kenneth I. Walker, III

Sta Sergeant Kenneth I. Walker, III, saved American lives when he directed

close air support of the 3rd Brigade Combat eam, 1st Infantry Division in Kunar

Province, Afghanistan, during his fth deployment with the Air National Guard.

He led close air support missions for nine operations and spent more than 135

hours on combat patrols. Sergeant Walker controlled more than 1,600 rounds of

ordnance during 88 troops in contact situations. When his vehicle was struck by

a rocket propelled grenade, he dismounted and returned small arms re while the

attack continued. He led close air support missions for a sustained 40 hours in

combat conditions under direct re.

Duty Title: Tactical Air Control Party Journeyman

Organization: 116th Air Support Operations Squadron, Camp Murray, Washington

Home of Record: El Paso, Texas

Staff Sergeant

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Stephen R. Hunter, Jr.

echnical Sergeant Stephen R. Hunter, Jr., completed 107 combat missions,

destroyed 29 improvised explosive devices and cleared 3,000 kilometers of critical

supply routes while on his second 6 month short-notice mobilization to Balad Air

Base, Iraq. He trained seven regular Air Force counterparts and certied explosive

ordnance disposal technicians on vital range tasks and critical war skills. Sergeant

Hunter swept over 70,000 acres of Goldwater Range where he disposed of more

than 4,000 unexploded ordnances and recycled 548 tons of scrap metal. He also

developed an inventory system which achieved 100% accountability and doubled

user productivity.

Duty Title: Explosive Ordnance Disposal Craftsman

Organization: 944th Civil Engineer Squadron, Luke Air Force Base, Arizona

Home of Record: St. Petersburg, Florida

Technical Sergeant

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Master Sergeant James P. Mogren provided command and control, maintained

security and aided the injured after an explosive device hit during a deployment

to a Provincial Reconstruction eam in Afghanistan. He provided aid to ve

children during the explosion and saved three lives. Sergeant Mogren led security

operations for 95 convoys which enabled quality assessments on 27 projects valued

at $3.2 million. As the teams civil aairs leader, he conducted 60 critical meetings

with Afghan government ocials which built trust and solidied the team,

aecting 350,000 lives. Sergeant Mogren supervised 13 humanitarian assistance

events which delivered 20,000 tons of aid to 3,600 Afghan families.

James P. Mogren

Duty Title: Security Forces Craftsman

Organization: 72nd Security Forces Squadron, Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma

Home of Record: Wheatridge, Colorado

Master Sergeant

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Senior Master Sergeant Steven Higgins deployed to Iraq as a Counter Radio

Controlled Improvised Explosive Device Electronic Warfare Instructor. Tere,

he served as the electronic warfare senior enlisted leader with the Army and led

52 eld site electronic warfare technicians. Sergeant Higgins ousted fear and

restored condence in 105 Soldiers following a convoy attack. He executed more

than 300 system pre-combat checks where he identied and replaced 50 faulty

systems protecting 200 vehicles and 700 people. Sergeant Higgins oversaw more

than 300 maintenance actions and 131 threat updates.

Steven Higgins

Duty Title: Wing Inspections, Readiness and Exercises Superintendent

Organization: 48th Fighter Wing, Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England

Home of Record: San Francisco, California

Senior Master Sergeant

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echnical Sergeant Anthony G. Graham led maintenance on the Air Forces

oldest F-16 eet where he oversaw 4,056 scheduled maintenance actions and 230

repairs which kept the $463 million eet healthy. He guided 38 maintainers who

generated 2,892 sorties and 5,026 ight hours. Sergeant Graham supervised 55

Airmen and 15 aircraft for exercise Red Flag which produced 247 sorties and

veried more than 20 pilots combat skills. He created cannibalization procedures

and targeted 56 tasks and 12 high-fail areas which increased on-time builds to

93%. Sergeant Graham readied his organization for a 10-aircraft, multi-site

deployment which featured 100 passengers, 41 short-tons of cargo and 245 sorties.

Anthony G. Graham

Duty Title: Flight Production Expeditor

Organization: 18th Aircraft Maintenance Unit, Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska

Home of Record: Tellico Planes, Tennessee

Technical Sergeant

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Airman First Class Samuel A. Siewert extracted a cardiac arrest patient from a

civilian aircraft which enabled rst responders to revive and save the life of the

patient. He arrived on scene to a routine medical call but instantly identied a

suicide attempt and provided care crucial to survival. Airman Siewert applied

advanced lifesaving techniques to a patient who was lifeless after being ejected

from a car, saving the persons life. He was recalled to duty to help battle a raging

military housing re where he assisted the resident with relocation. Airman

Siewert rescued a worker who was pinned between two cars, stabilized a broken

leg and treated the patient for internal injuries. Te patient fully recovered.

Duty Title: Fire Protection Journeyman

Organization: 437th Civil Engineer Squadron,

Charleston Air Force Base, South Carolina

Home of Record: Oconomowoc, Wisconsin

Samuel A. SiewertAirman First Class

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Senior Airman Ryan D. Pfeifer executed three emergency route deviations to allow

re-routed forward units to meet the convoy commanders intent and to uphold

security. He improved convoy brieng creation and distribution processes which

saved two hours on each convoy and more than 200 man-hours annually. Airman

Pfeifer performed 72 hours as a security escort team leader for increased mission

operations which allowed three missile sequence code changes to be accomplished

without delay. He served as a heavy weapons team leader for 120 convoys whichexceeded the previous years total by 50% without incident.

Duty Title: Security Forces Journeyman

Organization: 791st Missile Security Forces Squadron,

Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota

Home of Record: Aurora, Colorado

Ryan D. PfeiferSenior Airman

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Master Sergeant Sarah A. Sparks served on a one-year deployment as a logistics

advisor for the Afghan National Security Forces where she advised the Afghan

two-star Logistics and Materiel Readiness Directors and synchronized eorts

across the Ministry of Defense. She led 225 convoys and ensured the safety of

1,400 passengers along 1,600 miles with no mishaps. Sergeant Sparks managed

the Afghan National Armys depot capability for 134,000 soldiers and 11,000

weapons accounting for a $350 million vehicle eet and $65 million in radioequipment. She drove a 100% review of national Afghan logistics policies and

procedures which slashed the rewrite time from 18 months to four months.

Duty Title: Supply Manager

Organization: Logistics, Installation and Support Division of Headquarter Air Force

Space Command, Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado

Home of Record: Taos, New Mexico

Sarah A. SparksMaster Sergeant

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2010

Supporting CorporationsAccenture

BAE Systems

Boeing

Booz Allen HamiltonCSC

EADS North America

GE Aviation

General Dynamics C4 Systems

KBR

Lockheed Martin

Pratt and Whitney

Raytheon Company

SAIC

SES World Skies, U. S. Government Solutions

TUI University

as of 8/24/10

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2010AFASupporting Partners

$50K to $99,999

$10K to $49,999

$200K or more

up to $9,999