The 2019 Air Space and Cyber Conference Awards Ceremony with Acting Secretary of the Air Force Matthew Donovan, Chief of Staff of the Air Force Gen. David Goldfein, and Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force Kaleth Wright.
Transcript
This is not April Fools’, these are real awards. Could I get Matt Donovan, our Acting Secretary, to join me onstage, as well as our Chief of Staff, General Goldfein, and our Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force, Chief Wright. (dramatic orchestral music) (audience applauding) (dramatic orchestral music) I’d like to begin today by announcing a new and very special award. Throughout our Air Force communities, we are blessed to have a dedicated corps of civilian leaders who support our bases, and all of us while we live in their communities. They are vocal supporters of our mission, they are also welcoming, they feed us, they greet us. Before dating apps, they introduced us to young ladies and young women, and they are really the important people in our lives at many bases. As a result, there are many lifelong friendships between these community leaders and many in the Air Force, and today, we have another award, and that is named for Parker Greene and his wife, Lucy. Lucy, would you care to come up at this point? (dramatic orchestral music) (audience applauding) So, for decades, Parker Greene and his wife, Dr. Lucy Greene, took care of all of us who passed through Moody Air Force Base, and Lucy, through the Parker Greene Award, we seek to honor Parker and all of those like Parker and you, who have made enduring and significant contributions to the Air Force, to our airmen, to our families, and the community. Now, General Goldfein, please step to the podium to make some remarks.
Well, thanks, sir. Many of us in this room know Parker Greene, but I wanna share with you my favorite Parker Greene story. So, sometime ago, he was riding in a car with the Governor, and it was pouring down rain, and as they’re driving down this road, there’s a little lady pushing a child’s carriage, a buggy, in the rain, just all hunkered over and a big hood up, and the rain’s pouring down on her, and only Parker Greene, as he could say, he looked at the Governor, he says, “Governor, what a shame that that poor woman “has gotta walk in the rain with her buggy. “Don’t you think it’d be nice “if we could have a sidewalk that she could walk on?” (audience laughing) The Governor, the next day, wrote a check for a sidewalk on that entire road. So here’s the question. Dr. Lucy, how much did he pay you to push that buggy in the rain? (audience laughing)
[Lucy] Never tell.
(laughs) So we have a little short video to honor just an incredible legend and one of the best friends of our United States Air Force in our history, and so, if you would, please roll the video.
[Man] Oh, his legacy, it’s already written. Never met a stranger, always had a smile on his face. And if you didn’t like pecans, you didn’t like Parker.
[Man] Parker Greene makes us want to be better men and women, to live up to a higher standard, to love and care for airmen as much as he did, and to give with no expectation of getting anything in return.
Parker was the patriarch, I think, of Moody Air Force Base. I think that Moody Air Force Base is here, still, because of Parker.
Parker Greene was my friend, and he was a friend to thousands and thousands of thousands of other people, both in our Air Force and out. Every airman he met, he did something for. I have no idea how much money he and Ms. Lucy spent taking care of airmen and their families. I have no idea how many people he took to lunch, or dinner, or breakfast, or he sent peanuts to, or Vidalia onions, which he sent to me the first time I ever talked to him on the phone.
Parker set the example for the way communities and Air Force Bases, military bases, should come together and work together as a team, and I can say, sitting here today, that Moody Air Force Base might not be here if it hadn’t been for Parker Greene and Ms. Lucy, because they work themselves continually through BRAC, over base closures. We will never really understand the impact that Parker and Luce Greene had.
I’m not sure we can measure the full impact that he had on Moody Air Force Base other than the fact that Moody Air Force Base is still here, is thriving, and it has a constant, very important mission for our nation. He was key to keeping this base alive and key to everything that’s going on here at Moody Air Force Base.
[Man] So thank you so much for allowing me to be part of a celebration of life of an incredible man, who makes us all want to be better men. May God bless this nation we love, and men like Parker Greene, who teach us all what a life of service, well lived, really means. Thank you. (audience applauding)
At this point, I’d like to, as soon as we do this, offer Lucy a few moments at the podium. Let’s do this first.
[Announcer] Parker and Lucy Greene have been among the most influential civic leaders and advocates the Air Force has ever known. He was a leader, an airpower advocate, and a trusted counsel of other senior leaders across the Air Force and government. As respected and influential liaison and spokespeople, they constantly worked with communities, the Air Force, and our military across local, state, and federal government levels. For over four decades, they increased national awareness and understanding of the Air Force’s role in national security, and helped build vitally important grassroots support for its people and their mission. Their dominant message to every Air Force leader they encountered was, what can we do for you? The Air Force Association takes great pride in presenting the first W. Parker Greene Legacy Award to Dr. Lucy Greene. (dramatic orchestral music) (audience applauding)
I love you all for what you do every day. I want to share this award, I have so many people who have helped us over the years, and Parker would be embarrassed and humbled, and I’m excited and honored, and I’m sorry that he’s not here with us, but I thank you from the bottom of my heart, and I need to ask some of you to join me today in setting this award in place. I want Commander Walls and Commander Birch and their airmen from Moody Air Force Base to stand with me, please. (audience applauding) Then I’d like our mayor, just stay up, if you will, please. and Mayor Gayle from Valdosta who represents our local administration. Stay up, John, if you will, please. (audience applauding) Members of the Moody Support Group who are here scattered about, would you please stand? Larry, stand. Thank you so much. (dramatic orchestral music) (audience applauding) And now, I want to have all the people who are members of support committees across the country, supporting our brave airman all across this great nation, would you please stand with me? (dramatic orchestral music) (audience applauding) Wait now, stay up because we’re gonna join with some other people, please, and then I want all those who have commanded Moody, and all those who have ever served at Moody, to please stand. (dramatic orchestral music) (audience applauding) Now all those who have ever served in the Air Force or are serving presently in the Air Force, with spouses and families and industrial partners, as we support the world’s greatest air, space, and cyber force, dominant, let’s stand together. (dramatic orchestral music) (audience applauding)
Okay, well, I really want to thank all of you in the audience who are community leaders. You really are essential, and we really appreciate, from AFA and an Air Force perspective, all that you do. Now, we’re going to go on to the rest of the program, and I’m gonna turn this over to the giant voice that is offstage.
[Announcer] Will Mrs. Olamarie Sheen, Mr. Brian Baumgartner, and Ms. Connie Davis please come forward? Mrs. Sheen served with distinction by fulfilling the duties of both the Air Operations Center and the Major Command’s Security Manager position for an unprecedented 11 months. She demonstrated expertise and skill with an extremely rare perfect score on a National Security Agency inspection, validating her management of the United States Air Forces in Europe, commander’s highest security program, and earning praise as a top security manager globally. Mr. Baumgartner’s exceptional leadership was instrumental to the 25-year extension of the Trident missile, where he led 15 personnel and executed 12 sorties. Mr. Baumgartner’s unrelenting pursuit of maintenance excellence, coordinating the efforts of two bases and 10 aircraft, drove the largest F-15C/E upgrade ever, worth 5.9 billion dollars. Ms. Davis expertly led a team of highly skilled aircraft technicians and support personnel in a world-class maintenance organization focused on process improvement, and ensuring the warfighter receives an outstanding quality product on time. In addition to her outstanding career achievements, Ms. Davis is a tireless contributor to the improvement of women’s health and professional status in her role as club president of the local Zonta International Club. The Air Force Association proudly presents the Civilian of the Year Award to Ms. Connie Davis for Outstanding Senior Manager, Mr. Brian Baumgartner for Outstanding Program Manager, and Ms. Olamarie Sheen for Outstanding Program Specialist. (dramatic orchestral music) (audience applauding) Will Mr. Leroy Coe please come forward? Mr. Coe developed a complex, four-billion-dollar program budget covering 34 projects. He successfully championed a military construction project for a state-of-the-art analysis and exploitation facility eliminating critical overcrowding. Additionally, he laid out a plan for 94 million dollars to enhance technical signals intelligence production and freed 78 million dollars of trade space for innovation. Finally, Mr. Coe mentored five Air Force PEMs, ensuring they have the necessary knowledge and confidence to defend their programs. The Air Force Association proudly presents the Lisa S. Disbrow Outstanding Civilian of the Year Award to Mr. Leroy Coe Pentagon, Virginia. (dramatic orchestral music) (audience applauding) Will Mrs. Elizabeth DuBe please come forward? Mrs. DuBe personified service before self in her efforts to better the Air Force community within Okinawa, and served over 19,000 airmen, families, and local residents. Her efforts led to $117,000 in donations across Okinawa with direct support of those in need. Mrs. DuBe touched the lives of countless personnel across the Basin community, and she single-handedly saved the life of an airman contemplating suicide. The Air Force Association proudly presents the Joan Orr Spouse of the Year Award to Mrs. Elizabeth DuBe, Air Force Special Operations Command. Her spouse is Lieutenant Colonel Patrick DuBe, 17th Special Operations Squadron, Kadena Air Base, Japan. (dramatic orchestral music) (audience applauding) Will Lieutenant Colonel Andrew Allen, Master Sergeant Kyle Wilson, Ms. Jean-Anne Butler, and Mr. Matthew Bradesca please come forward? This award recognizes airmen for outstanding and innovative contributions that had the greatest impact in international affairs and were most effective in building, sustaining, expanding, and guiding international relationships. These are critical enablers for the United States Air Force Expeditionary Air and Space Forces conducting global operation. The winners are officer, Lieutenant Colonel Andrew Allen, enlisted, Master Sergeant Kyle Wilson, senior civilian, Jean-Anne Butler, and junior civilian, Matthew Bradesca. (dramatic orchestral music) (audience applauding) Will Major Alexander Goldberg please come forward? Major Goldberg led the design, development, and launch of Guardian, a next-generation, web-based, multi-domain, C2 geospatial application that enables the two-way collaboration across all echelons of command. With all government-owned source code, this non-proprietary, modular, open architecture system allows decision-makers real-time sharing. Within the last six months, Guardian has been adopted as the best-of-breed C2 platform by over 250 federal, state, and local government agencies. The Air Force Association proudly presents the General Larry O. Spencer Innovation Award, individual category, to Major Alexander Goldberg, Austin, Texas. (dramatic orchestral music) (audience applauding) Will Colonel Enrique Oti and his team please come forward? Kessel Run will be receiving two awards. Kessel Run modernizes command, control, and intelligence capabilities, enhancing combat lethality across the Department of Defense. The team executes more than 18 applications in Section 804 rapid fielding efforts to continuously deliver war-winning software. They revolutionize how the Air Force builds and delivers software, charting groundbreaking commercial applications, forging new acquisition, talent management, recruiting, organizational construct, and software development processes, and leveraging cloud-native technology to build a software company to sense and to respond to conflict in any domain anytime, anywhere. The Air Force Association proudly presents the General Larry O. Spencer Innovation Award, team category, and the Theodore von Karman Award for most outstanding contribution to science and engineering to Kessel Run, Hanscom Air Force Base, Massachusetts. (dramatic orchestral music) (audience applauding) Will Captain Ryan Perhala and Senior Airman Darius Rivera please come forward? Captain Perhala led weapon school instruction, totaling 459 sorties, enabling integration across four major commands, including the first F-35A/MQ-9 integration. His efforts have increased the combat effectiveness of the remotely piloted aircraft enterprise. These initiatives include emerging kinetic and non-kinetic capabilities and tactics, operational flight program development, and weapons and weapons carriage enhancements to the MQ-9, optimizing MQ-9 capability to provide multi-domain persistent attack, supporting commanders. Sergeant Sjoholm, who is not with us today, led 210 personnel to overcome a manning shortfall, surged MQ-9 operations 25%, executed 18,600 combat hours, and struck 108 targets to defeat the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria. Furthermore, he deployed to the AFCENT Combined Combined Air Operations Center as MQ-9 LNO oversaw 33 combat lines coordinated the first ever MQ-9 strike package with Iraqi F-16Ses and expanded air tasking orders driven strikes for more MQ-9s by 500%. Airman Rivera expertly provided intelligence analysis and mission assessments to 165 aircrew. Furthermore, he developed 186 high-value individuals representing 103 strikes and the elimination of 167 Islamic State of Iraq and Syria members. Moreover, his efforts to utilize new research and analysis tools directly impacted intelligence support to MQ-9S, increasing the unit’s ability to find, fix, track, and target enemy personnel, and saving over 8,000 hours of research. The Air Force Association proudly presents the General John P. Jumper Award to pilot, Captain Ryan Perhala, sensor operator, Senior Master Sergeant Joshua Sjoholm, and mission intelligence coordinator, Senior Airman Darius Rivera. (dramatic orchestral music) (audience applauding) Will the President of General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Mr. Dave Alexander, please come forward? Will the representatives of the 33rd Special Operations Squadron please come forward? The gryphons flew 900 persistent attack and reconnaissance combat missions, totaling 14,500 flight hours while being the remotely piloted aviation community’s first proportionally undermanned squadron. They eliminated over 500 of the nation’s most dangerous targets across five theaters and benchmarked a 98% success rate over 200 strikes. In conjunction with their unique reorganization internal to United States Special Operations Command, the gryphons added six mission certifications and increased training by 350%. The Air Force Association proudly presents General Atomics Remotely Piloted Aircraft Squadron of the Year Award to the 33rd Special Operations Squadron, Cannon Air Force Base, New Mexico. (dramatic orchestral music) (audience applauding) General Atomics and its affiliated companies have a long record of advocating for STEM education and supporting and promoting aerospace education. The General Atomics Sciences Education Foundation funds nonprofit STEM organizations, such as TutorMate and develops educational resources accessible to the local community and worldwide. General Atomics Energy Group developed a fusion education and outreach program to educate students, parents, and teachers on the STEM elements that support research and development of fusion energy. General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Incorporated, an electromagnetic systems group, fund and support university-level STEM programs specializing in aeronautics, astronautics, robotics, and cyber-related subjects. We applaud General Atomics and affiliated companies for their extensive commitment to aerospace education. The Air Force Association proudly presents the Citation of Honor to General Atomics and its affiliated companies. (dramatic orchestral music) (audience applauding) Will Major General Mark Smith please come forward? Civil Air Patrol executes numerous programs in support of its aerospace education mission. Their aerospace connections and education program provides engaging and meaningful cross-curricular aerospace-themed lessons that support STEM initiatives and enrich the school curricula. Lastly, CAP has started the Youth Aviation Initiative in response to the worldwide pilot shortage and to spark interest in and to call attention to aviation and aerospace career programs. In 2018, CAP flew a record 35,316 cadets from Civil Air Patrol, the Air Force Junior ROTC program, and the Air Force ROTC. Thanks to CAP’s efforts, hundreds of cadets now solo and receive private pilot licenses every year. The Air Force Association proudly presents the Hoyt S. Vandenberg Award for outstanding accomplishments in aerospace education to Civil Air Patrol. (dramatic orchestral music) (audience applauding) Thank you, Secretary Donovan, General Goldfein, and Chief Wright for your assistance. Will General Mike Holmes please come forward to assist with the presentations of the next awards? Will Captain Kevin Rose and his crew please come forward? The crew of Fix 74 demonstrated superior airmanship as part of the 21st Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron, conducting sustained combat support and sensitive reconnaissance operation for coalition forces in support of US CENTCOM and USCOM. Their outstanding performance ensure dedicated airborne intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance coverage which was paramount to the execution of the coalition strike on multiple Syrian chemical weapons production and storage facilities. Often operating in austere conditions under actual IFR, at facilities under fire and without the aid of tower or air traffic control guidance, the crew consistently found solutions to off-the-book problems. At other times, the crew performed their duties under imminent threat from surface-to-air missiles. The tenacity and determination of the crew of Fix 74 enabled them to execute joint intelligence preparation of the operational environment. The unwavering and relentless commitment of the crew to practice sound judgment while taking necessary risk for the sake of our allies and the United States of America reflects a distinctive and prestigious accomplishment on themselves, the 21sters, and the United States Air Force. The Air Force Association proudly presents the General Jerome F. O’Malley Award to the crew of Fix 74, Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska. (dramatic orchestral music) (audience applauding) Will Major Jeffrey Entine please come forward? While deployed, Major Entine led 75 combat flights in the F-16 and successfully employed 43 weapons, including seven engagements under, quote, dangerous close, unquote, conditions. He revolutionized laser racket tactics, techniques, and procedures, doubling the F-16’s hit rate, and enabling 148 successful combat strikes. Finally, Major Entine guided the F-16 division through 250 test sorties, bringing combat air force capabilities forward three to five years. The Air Force Association proudly presents the Lieutenant General Claire Lee Chennault Award to Major Jeffrey Entine, Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. (people cheering) (dramatic orchestral music) (audience applauding) Will Captain Dan English and crew please come forward? The professionalism, knowledge, and technical skills of Crew 8 was instrumental in defeating adversaries in the AOR. During this period, Crew 8 supported command and control operations as well as provided dynamic intelligence collection and warning for an air operation center covering two areas of responsibility. Additionally, Crew 8 detected ground and surface movement during Operations Inherent Resolve and Operation Freedom’s Sentinel. Crew 8 dynamically employed their aircraft and ensured collection assets were safely and efficiently positioned to support combatant commander’s objectives. The Air Force Association proudly presents the Airborne Battle Management Crew of the Year Award to the 128th ACCS Combat Crew 8, Robins Air Force Base, Georgia. (dramatic orchestral music) (audience applauding) Thank you, General Holmes for your assistance. Will General Maryanne Miller please come forward to assist with the presentation of the next award? Will Captain Victoria Perkins and her crew please come forward? Python 61 distinguished themselves by demonstrating outstanding performance while participating in aerial flight in support of Operation Freedom’s Sentinel. While acting as a secure radio relay, the crew refueled an AC-130 in support of a downed helicopter. The crew’s dynamic response and swift action allowed safe recovery of 11 downed crew members. The Air Force Association proudly presents the Brigadier General Ross Hoyt Award to the crew of Python 61, McConnell Air Force Base, Kansas. (dramatic orchestral music) (audience applauding) Thank you, General Miller. Will General Arnold Bunch, Jr. please come forward to assist with the presentation of the next awards? Will Colonel Jason Bartolomei please come forward to receive two awards? Colonel Bartolomei provided strategic direction to the 83-billion-dollar ground-based Strategic Deterrent Acquisition Category ID program, replacing the Minuteman-III intercontinental ballistic missile. He was instrumental in creating a new model-based system engineering tools, thus allowing the government to own the technical baseline through 2075. Finally, Colonel Bartolomei directed the first-ever cost capability trade studies to ensure the best value for the Air Force Global Strike Command capabilities development document. For these outstanding contributions, the Air Force Association proudly present the AFMC Management Award, executive division, and the General Larry D. Welch Award, officer category, to Colonel Jason Bartolomei, Hill Air Force Base, Utah. (dramatic orchestral music) (audience applauding) Thank you, General Bunch. (dramatic orchestral music) Will General Timothy Ray please come forward to assist with the presentation of the next awards? Will Senior Master Sergeant Thomas Podgorski please come forward? Sergeant Podgorski executed the duties of wing weapons manager for an eight-month period. His exemplary leadership was apparent as he led 141 airmen during the 2018 Unit Effectiveness Inspection, where the weapons load training was recognized as a strength by the Inspector General team, and directly contributed to the wing’s best results in Air Force Global Strike Command history. The Air Force Association proudly presents the Larry D. Welch Award, enlisted category, to Senior Master Sergeant Podgorski, Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri. (dramatic orchestral music) (audience applauding) Will Mr. Scott Bagnell please come forward? Mr. Bagnell supported the nuclear enterprise by organizing the infrastructure for the squadron’s two-million-dollar secure compartmentalized information facility for the network migration to a new headquarters facility. Further, he developed a software application to support the intercontinental ballistic missile targeting’s operation plan revisions. Further, he led the information assurance coordination of targeting system software development in support of seven operational intercontinental ballistic missile test launches worth 186 million dollars. The Air Force Association proudly presents the Larry D. Welch award, enlisted category, to Scott Bagnell, Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska. (dramatic orchestral music) (audience applauding) Will Lieutenants Van Heusen and Jedediah Simpson please come forward? Lieutenants Van Heusen and Simpson led the wing with 1272 alert hours at the alternate command post. Additionally, their performance during Exercise Olympic Flag 2018 provided 63 hours of simulated combat operations, which resulted in 22 items and lessons Learned for the 724th Air Force Missileers. The Air Force Association proudly presents the General Thomas S. Power award for the most outstanding missile crew to Lieutenants Austin Van Heusen and Jedediah Simpson, FE Warren Air Force Base, Wyoming. (dramatic orchestral music) (audience applauding) Thank you, General Ray, for your assistance. Will Lieutenant General Jay Silverio please come forward to assist with the next presentation? Will US Air Force Academy Cadet Gordon McCulloh please come forward? Cadet McCulloh was ranked 18 out of 1,007 in academics for the class of 2020. He excelled in academic, military, and physical performance with perfect military inspection scores. He earned a 3.91 grade point average while traveling the globe perfecting his minor in the Arabic language. He researched hybrid rocket propulsion through the integration of the Einstein Energy Theory as a Stamps scholar. The United State the Air Force Association proudly presents the USAFA Cadet of the Year Award to Cadet Gordon McCulloh. (dramatic orchestral music) (audience applauding) Thank you, General Silveria. Will Lieutenant General Brad Webb please come forward to assist with the presentation of the next awards? Will Cadet Savannah Johnson please come forward? Cadet Johnson is a sustained superior performer, recognized leader, scholar, and volunteer. She is ranked as the top cadet in her graduating class at her detachment, and ranked in the top 10% nationwide for grades and fitness. Cadet Johnson’s incredible drive was recognized when she earned distinguished graduate laurels at field training, finishing in the top 1%. A respected leader, she instills confidence in her peers, makes sound decisions to improve cadet wing morale, and builds strong future officers in the process. The Air Force Association proudly presents the Air Force ROTC Cadet of the Year Award to Cadet Savannah Johnson, University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, Minnesota. (dramatic orchestral music) (audience applauding) Will Cadet Sydney Cloutier please come forward? Cadet Cloutier showed inspiring leadership throughout the last year. She was the varsity volleyball captain as a junior, a first for Pensacola High School, she was president of the English National Honor Society, co-president of the Science National Honor Society, and had a 4.72 weighted GPA, getting her into the top 5% of her class. She is also a member of Kitty Hawk, the American Rocketry Challenge, Stellar Explorers, and the Academic Bowl. She also volunteers weekly to teach, inspire, and mentor underprivileged children, and she is the leader of her county’s Backpack Project, which provides meals for 537 Title I students weekly. The Air Force Association proudly presents the Air Force Junior ROTC Cadet of the Year Award to Cadet Sydney Cloutier. (dramatic orchestral music) (audience applauding) Thank you, General Webb. Will Rolls-Royce North American President and CEO Tom Bell please come forward? AFA is honored to thank Rolls-Royce for its platinum sponsorship of our aerospace education programs, including the coveted Teacher of the Year program. Mr. Bell will now announce and introduce this year’s award recipient.
Everybody, and thank you for joining us this morning. I’m thrilled and honored to represent Rolls-Royce in front of you today to discuss this important topic, and also give the voice of God a well-deserved break. (people laughing) We all know the importance of STEM education. Preparing the engineers, scientists, and leaders of tomorrow is crucial for all of us, for the Air Force, for the AFA, for our very nation. And of course, STEM is critical for Rolls-Royce, too. We are engaged in advanced research in digital engineering, electrification, hypersonics, directed energy, and many other important subjects. That’s why Rolls-Royce is so proud to support AFA’s aerospace education programs, and proud to be the exclusive sponsor of AFA’s National Teacher of the Year program. All of us here have probably had some educator in our life who propelled us to where we are today. Maybe it was a teacher who was so inspiring that their presence has stuck with us, or one who encouraged us when we needed it most, at a difficult point in our educational journey. Maybe it was an educator whose teaching techniques were so exciting and interesting, they changed the course of our studies, our career, in fact, our lives. This year’s AFA National Teacher of the Year, Michael Vargas, is such a teacher. Mr. Vargas, a ninth grade physics teacher from Pinnacle High School in Phoenix, Arizona, has been inspiring students for 19 years. Here’s what some of those inspired students have to say about him. From Caitlin, a sophomore at Pinnacle High School, Mr. Vargas was an amazing and inspiring teacher. Every day was filled with learning in a fun way. He was an outstanding teacher, and with his enthusiasm, he inspired each of his students to find a love of physics. From Kalib, a senior at Pinnacle. Mr. Vargas has opened up new possibilities for me, and helped me realize my full potential in science and leadership. And finally, from sophomore Mackenzie, Mr. Vargas has been the best teacher I’ve ever had. He made learning more than just reading from a textbook. Mr. Vargas and his amazing teaching took my worries away and proved I could do it. Mr. Vargas is, by far, the best teacher on campus. And now, the AFA’s National Teacher of the Year from Pinnacle High School in Phoenix, Arizona, Mr. Michael Vargas. Would you please stand and be recognized? (dramatic orchestral music) (audience applauding) Thank you for this opportunity to support teachers throughout the United States. Have a great Air, Space and Cyber Conference.
[Announcer] Mr. Bell, thanks to you and to Rolls-Royce for your very generous and continuing contributions. Will Lieutenant General Richard Scobee please come forward to assist with the presentation of the next awards? Will Major Sonja Demuth and Karen Anderson please come forward? Major Demuth deployed on the Air and Space Operations Center’s strategy staff, filling a short notice tasking. Major Demuth identified staff deficiencies and drove an effort to better integrate appropriate intelligence skill sets into staff positions, providing relevant intelligence to operational support for space-focused electronic warfare units in theater. With her deployment, Miss Karen M. Anderson recognized 10-member team, excuse me, reorganized a 10-member team. Through Mrs. Anderson’s efforts, Major Anderson was able to focus on performing her duties, providing relevant intelligence to operational Support for space-focused electronic units in theater. The Air Force Association proudly presents the Air Force Reserve Citizen Airman and Employer of the Year Award to Major Sonya Demuth, Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado, and Karen Anderson, Lockheed Martin Space. (dramatic orchestral music) (audience applauding) Will Master Sergeant Peter Thompson please come forward? With the cooperation of his employer, Sergeant Thompson was able to fill a first sergeant shortfall by serving 179 days. During that time, he was responsible for 240 students, 20 cadre, and 49 assigned personnel. His team successfully built 1,000 bombs with 91% accuracy. He guided his team through three Iron Flag exercises, thus driving the success of DoD’s largest explosive operations. As first sergeant, he managed MWR dollars for base morale events, thus enhancing the quality of life for his team. His sustained efforts across five MAJCOMS exceeded previous combat operation standards. His employer, Robert Burton, warden of the Deuel Vocational Institution, California Department of Corrections, provided commendable support to the 940th Maintenance Squadron, First Sergeant, Master Sergeant Peter Thompson, when he was requested for a short notice manning assignment. Through Warden Burton’s efforts, Master Sergeant Thompson was able to focus on performing his duties as First Sergeant, Air Force Combat Communications Center. The Air Force Association proudly presents the Air Force Reserve Citizen Airman Award and Employer of the Year award to Master Sergeant Peter Thompson, Beale Air Force Base, California and to Robert Burton, Warden, Deuel Vocational Institution, California Department of Corrections. (dramatic orchestral music) (audience applauding) Will Captain Charles Phelps please come forward? Captain Phelps was selected to command the first A-10 mission in six years from Kandahar Air Base, Afghanistan, less than 24 hours after aircraft arrived in theater. He flew 43 Operation Resolute Support and Inherent Resolve combat sorties that resulted in 12 enemies killed in action. His attention to detail prevented a friendly fire incident, which saved lives and averted collateral damage. As a tactical communications expert, he restored satellite communication and antennas which enabled and reduced mission stoppage. A two-time company grade officer and pilot of the year, he was selected for a 2019 Weapons School slot. The Air Force Association proudly presents the President’s Award to Captain Charles Phelps, Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri. (dramatic orchestral music) (audience applauding) Will Colonel Sean Carpenter and the rest of his team please come forward? The 926th Wing achieved an outstanding degree of multi-domain support while associating with nine wings, five major commands, and eight combatant commands. By providing high-end total force fighter and remotely piloted aircraft, space, command, control, test, tactics, training, support, and combat operations. The 926th Wing warriors led 52 Red Flag exercises in various capacities and were subject matter experts for the entirety of the Air Force fighter aircraft. They were engaged in around-the-clock combat operations, which resulted in over 15,000 combat missions flown and 74 enemy combatants killed in action. And they aligned with the Secretary of the Air Force’s historic decision to train the enlisted pilots since World War II. The wing also provided critical humanitarian support during Hurricane Irma, saving five lives. The Air Force Association proudly presents the AFRC Unit of the Year Award to the 926th Wing, Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada. (exciting rock music) (audience applauding) Will Lieutenant Colonel John Stahl and his team please come forward? The men and women of the 706th provided core subject matter expertise to Nellis’ mission of operational test, tactics development and next generation training, fielding over eight billion dollars of capabilities and upgrades to the combat air forces. The team also led the integration of these new capabilities into six Joint Chiefs of Staff-directed exercises, improving the capabilities of over 3,600 units throughout the Department of Defense. The Air Force Association proudly presents the Citation of Honor to the 706th Fighter Squadron, Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada. (exciting rock music) (audience applauding) Thank you, General Scobee. Will Lieutenant General Scott Rice please come forward to assist with the presentation of the next awards? Will Master Sergeant Kaisha Gurtner-Hatton please come forward? Sergeant Gurtner-Hatton’s innovative leadership optimized training and productivity for 56 members across two weapons shops. She overhauled the sections training program by reorganizing over 350 qualifications. Additionally, she expertly streamlined the management, tracking, and execution of maintenance processes for 485 weapons equipment items, decreasing discrepancies by 90%. The Air Force Association proudly presents the Chief Master Sergeant Dick Red Award to Master Sergeant Kaisha Gurtner-Hatton, 140th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Colorado Air National Guard. (dramatic orchestral music) (audience applauding) Will Colonel Christopher Blomquist and his team please come forward? The 148th Fighter Wing flew 2,518 sorties for 5,971 hours while exceeding aircraft mission capability and pilot mission capable rate. They deployed 43% of their personnel in support of Operations Inherent Resolve and Freedom’s Sentinel. Despite intense deployment taskings, the 148th contributed 6,225 hours of community service, maintained a 93.19% retention rate, and enjoyed its 18th consecutive year of exceeding 100% end strength. The Air Force Association proudly presents the Air National Guard Outstanding Unit of the Year Award to the 148th Fighter Wing, Minnesota Air National Guard. (exciting rock music) (audience applauding) Thank you, General Rice, for your assistance. Will General Jeffrey Harrigian please come forward to assist with the presentation of the next award? Will Colonel Patricia Shank please come forward on behalf of Lieutenant Colonel Timothy Foster? While commander, Colonel Foster generated 28 Block 50 F-16s, representing the European command’s sole suppression of enemy air defense weapons system, resulting in an 86% mission-capable rate. Additionally, his team of logisticians’ fueling efforts resulted in a 92% mission-capable rate, earning the 2018 American Petroleum Institute’s best fuels management flight for United States Air Forces in Europe. Finally, the seasoned logistician delivered on the Chief of Staff’s readiness sprint to eliminate readiness atrophy. The Air Force Association proudly presents the Thomas P. Gerrity Award to Lieutenant Colonel Timothy Foster, Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany. (exciting rock music) (audience applauding) Thank you, General Harrigian. Will General Charles Hugh Brown, Jr. please come forward to assist with the next awards? Will Staff Sergeant Brandon Deem please come forward? Sergeant Deem was rated number one of 556 crew chiefs. He trained and certified 14 new crew chiefs on 285 tasks. He was the commander’s pick to lead austere field hot pit refueling operations while leading a six-airman team to continuously refuel 16 aircraft. He led 24 airmen in Operation Distant Frontier, labeling him a superior performer. In addition, he was the commander’s top performer at Red Flag. Throughout all of his responsibilities, he takes great pride in those he has trained and takes great pride in all of his assigned aircraft. The Air Force Association proudly presents the Chief Master Sergeant Thomas Barnes Award award to Staff Sergeant Brandon Deem, Kadena Air Base, Japan. (dramatic orchestral music) (audience applauding) Will Captain Chelsea Reams please come forward? The 18th Logistics Readiness Squadron led the first operational F-35A reception, placing fifth-generation aircraft in the priority theater designated by the 2018 National Defense Strategy. Additionally, they were a centerpiece of the pressure campaign against North Korea, culminating in supporting the National Command Authority’s airborne platform during the Joint Leader Summit. Finally, the squadron led the Special Operations Forces deployment that saved the lives of a 12-member Thai youth soccer team. The Air Force Association proudly presents the Citation of Honor to the 18th Logistics Squadron, Kadena Air Base, Japan. (dramatic orchestral music) (audience applauding) Will Captain Noah Policia and Senior Airman Erica Shaw please come forward? The men and women of the 36th Airlift Squadron were notified of the tasking to support the multinational aid effort to assist Indonesia after the earthquake and tsunami. They ferried earthquake victims and stranded travelers to pre-positioned refugee camps on the island of Borneo for three weeks. By the end of their efforts, the 36th Airlift Squadron would deliver 4.8 million pounds of humanitarian aid. Preparations for their redeployment were being made when a tropical depression in the center of the Pacific Ocean exploded into a Category 5 typhoon headed straight for the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. The 36th Airlift Squadron was re-tasked to support Indo-Pacific Command’s defense affected by Typhoon Yutu. Operating in concert with members of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force, the Philippine Air Force, and the Royal Australian Air Force, the 36th Airlift Squadron demonstrated the flexibility and rapid response provided by tactical airlift. Operation Christmas Drop concluded with donations to 20,000 people on 56 remote islands comprising the Northern Mariana Islands, Micronesia, and Palau. The Air Force Association proudly presents the BAVA Humanitarian Mission of the Year Award to the 36th Airlift Squadron, Yokota Air Base, Japan. (dramatic orchestral music) (audience applauding) Thank you, General Brown. Will Lieutenant General James Slife please come forward to assist with the next award? Will Colonel Terrence Taylor and his team please come forward? The 1st Special Operations Group was responsible for the execution of 55,000 flight hours as part of a 330-million-dollar program. The group also spearheaded the time-critical support to Tyndall Air Force Base after Hurricane Michael. As the most deployed operations group in the Air Force, the group flew over 6,000 combat missions, resulting in 1,650 enemy killed. The Air Force Association proudly presents the Secretary Verne Orr Award to the 1st Special Operations Group, Hurlburt Field, Florida. (dramatic orchestral music) (audience applauding) Thank you, General Slife. Will General John Raymond please come forward to assist with the presentation of the next awards? And will Lieutenant Colonel Kyle Beady please come forward? While deployed for the first 146 days of a 191-day deployment in support of Operations Freedom’s Sentinel and Resolute Support, the crew was exposed to significant risk of hostile action during multiple indirect fire attacks. They successfully executed the space electronic warfare mission for 5,000 hours during 464 combat missions, producing 10,472 combat effects and resulting in 1,189 enemy combatants killed in action, 781 detained, and 4,811 items of equipment and facilities collected or destroyed. The Air Force Association proudly presents the Best Space Operations Crew Award to Deployed Space Electronics Warfare Crew, Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan. (dramatic orchestral music) (audience applauding) Will Lieutenant Colonel William Birch and his team please come forward? The weapons and tactics flight collected lessons learned from satellite campaigns and experiences while creating a first-of-a-kind tactics leading to the Air Force’s first orbital engagement, AFTTP 3-1. The distinctive accomplishments of the weapons and tactics team reflect great credit upon themselves and the United States Air Force. The Air Force Association proudly presents the General George C. Kenney Award to the 3rd Space Experimentation Squadron Weapons and Tactics Flight. (dramatic orchestral music) (audience applauding) Will Major David Dy please come forward? Major David Dy made significant contributions to the continued good health of the men and women of the United States Air Force in the areas of readiness, better care, better health, and lower cost. Major Dy epitomizes selflessness and professional competence of the Air Force Medical Corps. The Air Force Association proudly presents the Paul W. Myers Award to Major David Dy, Joint Base San Antonio, Randolph, Texas. (dramatic orchestral music) (audience applauding) Thank you, General Raymond. Will Major General Ricky Rupp please come forward to assist with the next award? Will Captain Leslie Green please come forward? Captain Leslie Green distinguished herself as flight commander, Aeromedical Staging Facility. She directs 57 staff for the Air Force’s largest en route patient staging system, launching and recovering 336 missions and 7,915 patients in attendance. Further, she serves as the consultant for aeromedical staging facilities worldwide, is the patient safety manager, electronic health record manager, airfield disaster response team chief, and serves as the en route staging system director for three major commands. The Air Force Association proudly presents the Juanita Redmond Award to Captain Leslie Green, Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. (dramatic orchestral music) (audience applauding) Thank you, General Rupp. (dramatic orchestral music) (audience applauding) Will Major General Michael Brewer please come forward to assist with the presentation of the next award? And will Colonel Martha Monroe and the rest of her team please come forward? The Cyber Blue Book team expertly completed cyber vulnerability assessments and documented hundreds of potential vulnerabilities affecting 11 critical weapon systems valued at over 500 billion dollars. The team provided detailed cyber analysis for integration into developmental and operational test activities. Their final reports are distributed across the Air Force enterprise and effectively increased the resiliency of air, space, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, global strike, and command and control core weapon systems. The Air Force Association proudly presents the General Mark Welsh One Air Force Award to the Cyber Blue Book team. (dramatic orchestral music) (audience applauding) Thank you, General Brewer. Will Chief Master Sergeant Shawn Drinkard please come forward to assist with the presentation of the next award? And will Colonel Frederick Coleman and Lieutenant Colonel Keith Anderson please come forward? Colonels Coleman and Anderson led all strategic planning at United States Central Command for Operation Inherent Resolve to defeat the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. They represented the planning nexus between Central Command, five service components, and two subordinate headquarters. Their leadership of over 200 planners worldwide directly enabled all coalition operations to dismantle the Islamic State in Iraq and the Syrian Caliphate. The Air Force Association proudly presents the Citation of Honor to Colonel Coleman and Lieutenant Colonel Anderson, MacDill Air Force Base, Florida. (dramatic orchestral music) (audience applauding) Thank you, Chief. Will Lieutenant General Jeffrey Rockwell please come forward to assist with the presentation of our final award? Will Colonel Rebecca Vernon, please come forward? Colonel Rebecca Vernon distinguished herself throughout her 23 years as a staff judge advocate, as a defense counsel instructor, procurement attorney, professional development officer, wing staff judge advocate, and now as the staff judge advocate to Air Force Special Operations Command. Colonel Vernon consistently demonstrated excellence, initiative, leadership, and professionalism in the practice of law. The Air Force Association proudly presents the Stuart R. Reichart Award to Colonel Rebecca Vernon, Hurlburt Field, Florida. (dramatic orchestral music) (audience applauding) Will Secretary Donovan, General Goldfein, and Chief Wright please join Chairman Peters onstage for a special ribbon-cutting ceremony? I would also call forward our generous sponsors to join us onstage to announce the opening of the 2019 Air, Space, and Cyber Conference Technology Exposition. (dramatic orchestral music) Mr. Secretary, would you do the honors? (suspenseful drum roll) (dramatic orchestral music) Thank you, ladies and gentlemen. Please enjoy lunch in the Technology Exposition Hall downstairs. Speaker sessions will resume at 1 o’clock.