Liberty Wing recognizes annual award winners Published March 29, 2006 By 1st Lt. Marnee A.C. Losurdo 512th Airlift Wing DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. -- The 512th Airlift Wing selected its annual award winners for 2005. They will be recognized at the June 11 commander’s call. Airman of the Year Senior Airman Michael A. Motes, 512th Memorial Affairs Squadron services journeyman, is the Airman of the Year. He inventoried, supplied and managed $200,000 in flags, uniform items and mortuary supplies needed for service members’ proper dignified honors. He devoted seven months to an African mission, building a second story on a church while teaching Sunday school and vacation bible school to African youth. He earned 40 credits toward a degree in history and theology and 15 credits toward a Community College of the Air Force degree. NCO of the Year Staff Sgt. Richard B. Stuhmer, 512th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron aircraft electro/environmental systems technician, earned the honor of NCO of the Year. Some of his accomplishments include getting a short notice Operation Phoenix Banner support mission airborne in less than five hours. He is an active member of the Bel Air, Md., volunteer fire company and has performed life-saving duties for the past three years. He earned a Community College of the Air Force Aviation Maintenance Technology degree, and the Aerospace Education Foundation awarded him a $500 education grant and the Pitsenbarger Award. SNCO of the Year Master Sgt. John S. Bell, 709th Airlift Squadron loadmaster, is the Senior NCO of the Year. He has amassed more than 3,600 accident-free flying hours, including 292 hours of combat time in support of Operations Enduring and Iraqi Freedom. He is an active Delaware Veterans member who volunteers at functions to help generate revenue supporting the organization and providing assistance to Delaware veterans and their families. He is working on his bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering from Southern Illinois University and has a Community College of the Air Force degree. Crew Chief of Year Master Sgt Dennis W. Reed, 512th AMXS crew chief, is the 512th AW Crew Chief of the Year. Sergeant Reed supervised troubleshooting and repair on avionic, electrical and hydraulic system failures, enabling Team Dover to fly more than 1,200 Operation Iraqi Freedom missions. He was the first to receive the C-5 A/B Aircraft Modernization program training and initiated the cascade process by personally qualifying 10 percent of the unit work force. First Sergeant of the Year Chief Master Sgt. Suzy R.T. Florian, 512th AMXS first sergeant, garnered the title of 512th AW First Sergeant of the Year. She was activated for two years in support of Operations Enduring Freedom and Noble Eagle. She managed error-free completion of more than $1 million in travel voucher claims and is the Dover AFB Chief Group’s treasurer. She helped raise funds in excess of $6,000 supporting base Airmen and NCO initiatives and charities. She earned her master’s degree in business administration from Wilmington College and her Community College of the Air Force degree in Administrative Management. CGO of the Year Capt. Brian J. LaFreda, 326th Airlift Squadron pilot, is the Company Grade Officer of the Year. He has commanded high-risk C-5 combat missions into Iraq. He also commanded several humanitarian relief missions, one of which was to New Orleans in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, airlifting thousands of pounds of essential cargo. His C-5 crew was one of the first Reserve crews to deliver life-saving cargo in support of the Pakistan earthquake relief mission. Captain LaFreda is self-taught in sign language and volunteers at his local church providing communication for the pastor’s sermon. He also plays piano for the congregation. Civilian of the Year Beverly A. Lumia, 512th Operations Group secretary, is the Civilian of the Year. From serving as the OG civilian personnel monitor to unit orders representative to officer and enlisted performance report monitor, Ms. Lumia accomplishes a variety of tasks. She developed and implemented a correspondence tracking system, aiding in streamlining administrative procedures and improving accountability of correspondence as well as standardized the wing’s civilian time and attendance folders. Ms. Lumia also tutors students in grammar and writing skills.