Wing announces annual award winners

  • Published
  • By Capt. Marnee A.C. Losurdo
  • 512th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. --  The 512th Airlift Wing announced the 2009 annual award winners during the wing's first awards banquet April 10 at the Sheraton Hotel in Dover.

Twenty-second Air Force and Air Force Reserve Command award winners were also recognized during the three-hour event, which started at 6 p.m. and featured Chief Master Sgt. Steven M. Larwood, 22nd AF command chief, as the guest speaker.

Before the winners were announced, entertainment was provided by the U.S. Air Force Heritage of America Band, the Blue Aces.

After dinner and in front of an audience of 300 wing and community members, the emcees Capt. Otis Wilson, 512th Operations Group, and Tech. Sgt. Omar Latiri, 46th Aerial Port Squadron, announced the 2009 512th AW Outstanding Airmen of the Year.

Senior Airman Rafael Mulero III, 512th Maintenance Squadron, is the 512th AW Outstanding Airman of the Year. The 512th MXS journeyman stepped up as the weekend shift leader to manage equipment and the delivery of 445 assets used to maintain Aerospace Ground equipment for all Dover and transient aircraft. He also volunteered and coordinated sports programs for Philadelphia's Police Athletic League.

Staff Sgt. Michael Spencer, 512th Logistics Readiness Flight, is the 512th AW Outstanding NCO of the Year. The fuels distribution technician oversaw the safe issue of 23 million gallons of jet fuel with a response time of less than 12 minutes, which is 18 minutes faster than the Air Mobility Command standard. He also successfully completed the Base to Base Ruck March, hiking 47 miles on Memorial Day honoring American veterans and generating funds for USO Delaware.

Master Sgt. Vyjai Itwaru, 512th MXS, is the 512th AW Outstanding Senior NCO of the Year. He served as inspection dock supervisor, providing leadership and operational management to 75 active-duty, Reserve and civilian personnel. He also participated in the Central Florida Hospital Hear Walk Fundraiser, March of Dimes Campaign for babies, Delaware Blood Drive and Special Olympics for autistic children.

Capt. Crystal Beach, 512th AW, is the 512th AW Outstanding Company Grade Officer of the Year. The wing executive officer was named a superior performer for her role in planning, organizing and executing all events involved with Liberty Wing participation in the AMC Commander-in-Chief Installation Excellence Award. She also spearheaded the 512th AW staff's selection in the "Adopt-A-Family" program, collecting gifts for a single mother with three young children.

Margaret Whitman, 512th AW, is the 512th AW Outstanding Civilian of the Year. She is the wing commander's secretary. While assigned as the 512th Mission Support Group secretary, she served as the resource advisor and managed a $1.5 million Reserve Personnel Appropriations and $238,000 operation and maintenance budget for the group. In addition to her regular duties, she assisted the wing with protocol matters. She also volunteered her time to serve as the church clerk for the London Village Baptist Chapel and as the Delaware State Executive Secretary for the Air Force Association.

Chief Master Sgt. Suzy Florian, 512th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, is the 512th AW First Sergeant of the Year. As the 512th AMXS first sergeant, she is responsible for more than 180 unit members. One of her many accomplishments included tackling a squadron travel voucher training problem, which resulted in the error-free completion of more than $200,000 in voucher claims, slashing the submit-to-pay cycle to less than 30 days. She earned a Master's of Business Administration degree from Wilmington University and received her degree in Administrative Management through the Community College of the Air Force and is pursuing a second CCAF degree.

The annual award winners were selected from the 2009 quarterly award winners, which were also recognized at the event.

The 512th AW first quarter award winners are:
Senior Airman Charles McClain, 512th MXS;
Tech. Sgt. David Jackson, 512th LRF;
Master Sgt. Kevin Morrow, 326th Airlift Squadron;
Capt. Brock Bentz, 709th Airlift Squadron; and
Margaret Whitman, 512th MSG.

The second quarter award winners are:
Senior Airman Justin Porter, 512th Security Forces Squadron;
Staff Sgt. Michael Spencer, 512th LRF;
Master Sgt. Joseph Mogle, 512th MXS;
Capt. Kandi Playford, 326th AS; and
John Young, 512th Mission Support Squadron.

The third quarter award winners are:
Senior Airman Rafeal Mulero, 512th MXS;
Staff Sgt. James Black, 512th SFS; Master Sgt. Vyjai Itwaru, 512th MXS;
Capt. Paul Hauspurg, 512th MXS; and
Marilyn Larson, 512th Maintenance Group.

The fourth quarter award winners are:
Senior Airman Rachel Ruark, 512th AMXS;
Tech. Sgt. Julitssa Ortiz, 512th Airlift Control Flight, and
Staff Sgt. Nathaniel Rocha, 512th SFS;
Master Sgt. John Witzke, 709th AS;
Capt. Crystal Beach, 512th AW; and
Margaret Whitman, 512th AW.

The wing also acknowledged the following numbered Air Force and command award winners.

Announced in 2009, Capt. Marnee A.C. Losurdo, 512th Public Affairs, is the 2008 AFRC Public Affairs Company Grade Officer of the Year;

Master Sgt. Veronica A. Aceveda, 512th PA, is the 2008 AFRC PA Senior NCO of the Year;

And, Senior Airman Andria J. Allmond, 512th PA, is the 2008 AFRC PA Airman of the Year.

Master Sgt. James Blake, 512th AMXS, is the 2009 AFRC Ground Safety NCO of the Year;

Master Sgt. Kevin Fitzgerald, 512th AMXS, is the 2009 Thomas C. Barnes Crew Chief of the Year;

Chief Master Sgt. Chris Ford, 512 MXS, is the 2009 Outstanding Reserve Associate Maintenance Superintendent of the Year;

Maj. Richard Saunders, 46th APS, is the 2009 22nd Air Force Maj. Gen. Alice Astafan Logistics Field Grade Officer of the Year;

Tech. Sgt. David Jackson, 512th LRF, is the 2009 22nd AF Air Reserve Component Fuels NCO of the Year;

Senior Airman Isiah Copeland, 512th LRF, is the 2009 22nd AF ARC Fuels Airman of the Year;

Senior Master Sgt. Ronald Toomey, 512th LRF, is the 2009 22nd AF ARC Logistics Plan Senior NCO of the Year;

SSgt Brandy Kuemper, 512th LRF, is the 2009 22nd AF ARC Materiel Management NCO of the Year;

Tech. Sgt Edward Yienger, 512th LRF, is the 2009 22nd AF ARC Vehicle Management NCO of the Year;

Tech. Sgt. Greg Funk, 512th MXG, is the 2009 22nd AF NCO of the Year, 3D Category;

And, the 512th LRF claimed the 2009 AFRC Daedalian Maj. Gen. Warren R. Carter Logistics Effectiveness Award.

The evening concluded with remarks from 512th AW Commander Col. Randal L. Bright.

"This night is about you," said Colonel Bright while pointing to the audience. "I congratulate each and every award winner; and, I thank each of you and your families for your service. This is an outstanding unit. This is my third associate unit I've been assigned to, and I've never seen a better unit. We have outstanding Airmen and civilian employees, and this evening was a great opportunity to recognize some of our top performers."