Liberty Wing announces its annual award winners

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Zachary Cacicia
  • 512th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. --  The 512th Airlift Wing announced its 2017 annual award winners during a banquet March 3 at the Rollins Center in Dover, Delaware.

The banquet recognized the Liberty Wing Airmen who competed for the 2017 Annual Awards in the categories of airman, noncommission officer, senior noncommission officer, company grade officer, civilian and first sergeant.

Now a staff sergeant, Tyler McPhail, 512th Contingency Response Squadron command post journeyman, took home the trophy for Airman of the Year. His accomplishments from 2017 includes his participation in Exercise Saber Guardian, where he coordinated 151 flights that transported 1,800 passengers and 1.7 million pounds of cargo in conjunction with Air Mobility Command and U.S. European Command. He also completed 13 credit hours, with a 3.9 GPA, toward a degree in Aviation Management. Fourth Air Force also named McPhail their Airman of the Year, and he now moves forward to compete at the Air Force Reserve Command level.

The wing recognized Tech. Sgt. Daniel Grove, 512th AW Development and Training Flight chief, as the NCO of the Year. Normally a loadmaster instructor with the 326th Airlift Squadron, Grove ran the wing’s D&TF for the past year. He directly supervised 152 trainees, increasing Basic Military Training student leadership and honor graduates by 241 percent from the wing. He also led a team of 17 drill and ceremony competition judges for a Junior ROTC event.

Senior Master Sgt. Anthony Harris, 512th Communications Operations Flight chief, won Senior NCO of the Year. Over the past year, Harris orchestrated the development of a virtual out-processing sharepoint application. He also facilitated five Green Dot classes that trained 268 Airmen and increased Sexual Assault Prevention and Response awareness within the wing.

Capt. Bernie Kale, 512th AW Public Affairs chief, claimed wing CGO of the Year for his accomplishments. During the past year, Kale deployed as the troop commander for a 13 member hurricane response team to Homestead Air Reserve Base, Florida, after Hurricane Irma. Kale also was the lead PA officer responsible for 20 PA professionals during the Dover AFB Open House, reaching more than 42 million in digital audience size.

Laura Coseglia, 512th Airman and Family Readiness director, racked in a win by being named the wing’s Civilian of the Year. The year 2017 saw Coseglia conduct more than 60 formal and 100 informal contacts with military members, providing vital resources. The First Sergeant Council also recognized her with the Diamond Sharp Award.

The Liberty Wing recognized Master Sgt. Valerie McFadden, 326th AS first sergeant, for having the wing’s sharpest diamond. She standardized family care plans for four squadrons, trained new first sergeants on the program and ensured 330 members were deployment ready. She also organized a charity 5K race that raised more than $10,000 for a patient’s medical aid dog.

More than 200 512th AW Airmen, their guests and the wing’s honorary command chief Mayor of Dover Robin Christiansen attended the celebration honoring those Airmen who embody the wing’s motto ‘Liberty Strong!’