Wing unveils annual award winners at banquet

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Veronica Aceveda
  • 512th AW Public Affairs
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. --  About 300 people gathered at Dover Downs the evening of March 3, 2012, to find out who would walk away as the 512th Airlift Wing's annual award winners.

Col. Randal L. Bright, 512th Airlift Wing commander, bestowed the year-long title and honors to the following Airmen.

Senior Airman Matthew Ronan, 512th Logistics Readiness Squadron, is the 512th AW Outstanding Airman of the Year. The fuels journeyman deployed to Southwest Asia, where he issued 5 million gallons of fuel to more than 1,100 coalition aircraft and was inducted into the base's Grand Hall of Fame. Ronan returned from deployment and completed all required training needed for the wing's Operational Readiness Exercise in only two weeks, earning an Excellent rating.

Staff Sgt. Robert Rossey, 512th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, is the Outstanding NCO of the Year. During a deployment in Kyrgyzstan, the aerospace maintenance technician served as the assistant NCO in charge of de-icing operations, which serviced 317 missions with zero weather delays. He saved a mission by identifying a loose nose landing gear axle spacer. Rossey was a member of a team which raised $25K for multiple sclerosis, marking the highest event total in the last five years.

Senior Master Sgt. Jerome Smolarek, 512th AMXS, is the Outstanding Senior NCO of the Year. While deployed to Kyrgyzstan, the production superintendant managed 39 maintainers and orchestrated maintenance action procedures for 621 aircraft, which contributed to the deployed wing's 95.9 percent mission success rate. Smolarek was named Superior Performer for avoiding 16 mission recovery taskings, which saved $19K in travel costs and maintenance man-hours.

Capt. Crystal Beach, 512th AW, is the Outstanding Company Grade Officer of the Year. The wing executive officer deployed to Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, where she served as the assistant Installation Control Center director, leading the airfield through seven attacks, alerting 45,000 wing personnel and increased the defensive posture in less than an hour. Beach managed more than 75 higher headquarters taskings and reduced the unit's awards and decorations backlog by authoring more than 600 medals.

Willie Hairston, 512th Force Support Squadron, is the Outstanding Civilian of the Year. The administrative assistant processed more than 165 Requests for Personnel Action with the lowest Air Force Reserve Command error rate. Hairston's Time and Attendance program received zero errors for three quarterly audits. For the 2011 ORE, he served as a unit control center representative, supporting more than 70 Airmen, achieving 100 percent mission readiness.

Bright, who initiated the creation of having an annual awards banquet upon his arrival, conveyed a sense of pride to the crowd of Airmen, spouses and distinguished visitors such as the base commander, honorary commanders and the mayor of Dover.

"You've finally reached the pinnacle I envisioned five years ago," he said. "You made it to Dover Downs, there are hundreds in attendance and the support and recognition for these deserving Airmen is phenomenal."

Throughout the night, Capt. Otis Wilson, 512th Operations Group, and Master Sgt. Mike Derasmo, 512th Maintenance Squadron, continued to entertain the audience as the emcees of the event. They also spotlighted Airmen in the audience, who had reached milestones at levels beyond the base.

Lt. Col. Mark Visco, 512th Airlift Control Flight commander, accepted five of those awards on behalf of his unit and Airmen.

"I'm exceptionally proud of the members of my unit," said Visco. "They earned every one, and I'm proud to lead them."

Bright, who has led the Liberty Wing since June of 2007, will be moving to Robins Air Force Base, Ga., in May. Serving as the banquet's guest speaker, he embraced the opportunity for a farewell address.

"This is a great wing, and it's been a great ride," said Bright. "I wish I had an award to give to every person in the room."


Listed below are the accomplishments of other champions, who were recognized at the wing's third annual awards banquet.

Department of Defense:

The 512th Airman and Family Readiness Office earned the 2011 Department of Defense Reserve Family Readiness Award for the Air Force Reserve.

Command:

Air Force Reserve Command awarded the 512th Force Support Squadron the Gerrit D. Foster, Jr. Outstanding Military Personnel Program Award for 2011.

The 512th ALCF is the 2010 AFRC Airlift Control Flight of the Year and the 2010 Air Mobility Command Airlift Control Flight of the Year.

Senior Master Sgt. William Robinson, 712th AMXS, received the 2011 AMC Outstanding Reserve Associate Maintenance Award, Superintendent Category.

Master Sgt. Veronica Aceveda, 512th AW Public Affairs Office, earned the 2011 AFRC Media Contest Best Human Interest Feature Article and 2nd Place Print Journalist of the Year honors.

Master Sgt. Sean Pyne, 512th ALCF, is the 2010 AFRC Airlift Control Flight Senior NCO of the Year and the AMC Airlift Control Flight Senior NCO of the Year.

Tech. Sgt. Kevin Hitesman, 512th Maintenance Squadron, won the 2011 AFRC Ground Safety NCO of the Year Award, Additional Duty.

Tech. Sgt. Richard Lewandowski, 512th AMXS, received the 2011 AMC Outstanding Reserve Associate, Technical Category.

Staff Sgt. Johnathan Concepcion is the 2010 AFRC Airlift Control Flight NCO of the Year.

Base:

Senior Master Sgt. Jerome Smolarek, 512th AMXS, earned the 2011 Leo Marquez Award Senior NCO Category.

Senior Master Sgt. Brian Gallagher, 512th AMXS, is the 2011 Lance P. Sijan Award Senior Enlisted Category winner.

Tech. Sgt. Joel Griffith, 712th AMXS, received the 2011 CMSgt Thomas N. Barnes Crew Chief of the Year Award.

Staff Sgt. Harry Mackay, 512th AMXS, is the 2011 Lance P. Sijan Award, Junior Enlisted Category winner.

Staff Sgt. Kenneth Smolecki, 512th MXS, is the 2011 Leo Marquez Award NCO Category recipient.

Wing:

Senior Airman Brett Johnson, 512th MXS, Airman of the Quarter, first quarter
Now Staff Sgt. Christine King, 712th AMXS, Airman of the Quarter, second quarter
Senior Airman Matthew Ronan, 512th LRS, Airman of the Quarter, third quarter
Senior Airman Paul Weston, 512th AMXS, Airman of the Quarter, fourth quarter

Tech. Sgt. Robert Wynn, 512th MXS, NCO of the Quarter, first quarter
Staff Sgt. Robert Rossey, 512th AMXS, NCO of the Quarter, second quarter
Tech. Sgt. Michael McCracken, 46th APS, NCO of the Quarter, third quarter
Staff Sgt. Joann Colon, 512th LRS, NCO of the Quarter, fourth quarter

Master Sgt. Thomas Ragonese, 512th ALCF, Senior NCO of the Quarter, first quarter
Senior Master Sgt. James McGarvey, 512th Security Forces Squadron, Senior NCO of the Quarter, second quarter
Senior Master Sgt. Jerome Smolarek, 512th AMXS, Senior NCO of the Quarter, third quarter
Master Sgt. David Jackson, 512th LRS, Senior NCO of the Quarter, fourth quarter

Now Maj. Cathy Milhoan, 512th FSS, Company Grade Officer of the Quarter, first quarter
Capt. Crystal Beach, 512th AW, Company Grade Officer of the Quarter, second quarter

Diana Oswell, 512th MXS, Civilian of the Quarter, first quarter
Nicole Seigler, 326th Airlift Squadron, Civilian of the Quarter, second quarter
Deborah Nauman, 326th AS, Civilian of the Quarter, third quarter
Willie Hairston, 512th FSS, Civilian of the Quarter, fourth quarter