Lt. Gen Michael Loh, Director of the Air National Guard; and Chief Master Sgt. Maurice Williams, Command Chief Master Sergeant of the Air National Guard; preside over this year’s Air National Guard Outstanding Airman of the Year Recognition Ceremony at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, August 19, 2021.

Transcript

Welcome To the 2021. Focus on the force director of the Air National Guard, outstanding airman of the year recognition ceremony. Throughout the ceremony, you’ll be given cues to stand and be seated at appropriate times as a reminder during the playing of the national anthem. Military members should stand at attention and civilian guests should place their right hand over their heart. We would like to extend a special welcome to the family of the award winners. Senior Airman Ruth, Ann Belle’s husband, Mr. Brian Bell, the late Master Sergeant Tyler Will’s wife, Mrs. Jennifer were his mother. Mrs. Jacqueline Marshall. His sister, Technical Sergeant Aaron Where? And his mother-in-law? Mrs. Rebecca Cushing Yeah, also Master Sergeant john stevens, husband, Senior Master Sergeant, Michael steven. We would also like to distinguish. We would also like to recognize our distinguished visitors. Mrs. Gwendolyn Williams, spouse of the Command. Chief Master Sergeant of the Air National Guard. Major General john Deskins, Deputy Director of the International Guard, Major General James Camp, Assistant Adjutant General Ohio National Guard, Major General Troy, Iraq Commander, International Guard Readiness Center, Brigadier General, Deputy Adjunct General for the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Michael Regan Chief Master Sergeant Kelly Hops is Senior enlisted Leader, National Guard Bureau, Joint Staff Chief Master Sergeant, David Colligan command. Chief Master Sergeant, Air National Guard Readiness Center. Chief Master Sergeant retired at Brown 6th Command. Chief Master Sergeant of the Air National Guard. Chief Master Sergeant, Retired smith Nine Command. Chief Master Sergeant of the Air National Guard Sergeant, Major Retired Math Ukraine’s Executive Director, enlisted Association of the National Guard of the United States. Retired Command Sergeant Major James Gordon? Representative of Geico. We would also like to welcome all Adjutant General State Command Chiefs, Wing commanders, Wing Command Chiefs, military members, and civilian guests and those attending virtually in sharing this special occasion. We are honored to have with us as our presiding official for today’s ceremony. Lieutenant General Michael Lo Director of the Air National Guard and Chief Master Sergeant Maurice Williams. Command Chief Master Sergeant of the Air National Guard. Ladies and gentlemen, please stand for the entrance of the official party playing of ruffles and flourishes presentations of the colors by Joint base Andrews. Honor guard singing of the national anthem by Senior Master Sergeant Misha Dawson followed by the invocation given by Chief Master Sergeant. Retired Ed Brown. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Yeah. No, mm. Mhm All one Oh okay. Over mm mhm mhm Oh hello, breathe or oh say can you see by the dawn’s early light? What so proudly we hailed at the twilight’s last gleaming whose broad stripes and bright stars through the pair Ullas fight or the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming and the rockets regular regular the bombs bursting in air gave proof through the night that our flag was still there. Oh say does that star spangled banner yet wave or the last and of the free and the home of the break. Oh mhm good morning everyone. An invocation is simply and then invite for God to be in the presence of the ceremony. And uh so please join me in prayer. Heavenly father, thank you for the opportunity for us to fellowship this morning and recognize our four outstanding Airman of the Year for our Air National Guard Lord, we realize it does not get better than that. Thank you for the blessings that you have bestowed upon them, not only within our family but for their future careers. Or we ask that you continue to bless and praise those that are doing good work, God’s work throughout the world and throughout this nation. Lord, please never forget. Let us forget that everything that we are and everything that we ever hope to be always be at the grace of your hand. We ask this in your holy name. Amen. Yeah. Mhm. Thank you. Honor Guard certain Dawson Chief Brown ladies and gentlemen, you may be seated at this time. We ask that you direct your attention to the screen for video presentation highlighting the outstanding Airman of the year. Mhm. I’m still in a state of shock why I was chosen. I just love doing my job and I feel very, very blessed to be in the position that I’m to be chosen as the outstanding first Sergeant of the year for the International Guard is a very humbling experience. I sat down and I’m like wow, this is a big deal and we we’ve accomplished something pretty great from the little town of Port Clinton in Ohio and the Ohio Air National Guard, I’m in the right field and doing the job that I was so passionate about from when I started as an airman and had my goal as a first sergeant because I wanted to help the people, I wanted to help airmen succeed and get to their full potential when he found out that he won. And the phone rang immediately and he’s like, what you talking about? So uh surprised and then again humbled uh as we start talking about the things that he did, it was it was amazing. He had not only an amazing year if he went back even further than that, that wasn’t just he didn’t just start doing that, he’d been doing those type of things for a long time. I mean he was very happy to see that it paid off with with the recognition of the award. Mhm. I give everything that I have whenever I go into my tasks, I’m willing to put myself out there and volunteer for pretty much anything that needs to be done. And I think that those are some of the factors that have gone into me being able to be successful. I really am honored to be in this position, and I don’t feel like I’m representing myself individually, I’m representing their the Air Force, the International Guard and all the men and women that have served with because uh this is a direct reflection of the relationships that we’ve had and the successes that we’ve had along the way. I know for sure that he, that he would tell people to not be afraid to go out and welcome the challenges and and go take them on full board. Don’t wait for others to do it. Don’t wait for for direction that you are smart enough and you are determined enough to get things done. Mhm. Mhm. Yeah, mm hmm. Yeah. Mhm. Ladies and gentlemen, Lieutenant General Low and command. Chief Master Sergeant Williams. Mhm. Mhm. Mhm. Oh my God. Mhm. Mhm. Okay, Good morning. Thank you. Hey folks, this is a great day or what? Yeah, good. Yeah, it is wonderful to be out here with you today. But more importantly, it is wonderful to celebrate our outstanding Airmen of the year. Generals. Chiefs, Chiefs, senior leaders, friends, and family. Thank you for being here. Hey near National Guard. There are 108,000 airmen, Both officer and enlisted. 108,000. We have them in 176 locations from Guam to Maine and from Alaska to Puerto rico. Out of that number 92,950 for our enlisted airmen. And out of those 92954 we choose four to be your outstanding airman of the year and they are with us today. Mhm Thank you meow, wow. Mhm. Chief Williams and I made this a special week for them. More importantly though, they spent years getting to this level and it was your years as leaders and his mentors that made this day possible. And so with that Chief mom tell us all about, so I made you turn off your mike death once a week. All right, great. Great. Hey, it’s uh as a ball said, Hey, they’ve been here all week. It’s been a great time since they landed and landed on here in the national capital region on Saturday. You know, during this time I got the opportunity to sit down and talk with each one of them have social events with them and it’s the uniqueness among our love them and that’s what makes us powerful as the Air National Guard. The uniqueness of the attributes and skills that each one of us have. You know, as I look at em Unveil Chairman Bruce Bell, She’s very passionate. One of giving wanted to help someone that’s her attribute and how she used when I speak with her when I talked with the we’re family I think about the loving family and how inclusive they are as a family as they’ve been with me during this week. That’s the warmth of it. You know, as I look at talk with senior Master Sergeant Snyder. Mhm, very detailed, organized, great individual managerial skills and very disciplined. That’s what we need no organization. And then I go to the 1st Sergeant Sergeant Stephen. You know, the first started people. First mission, always, that’s him, Small guy, big personality, Love people, perfect person for the perfect job. That’s what we need in our organization. You know, in an air force, we’re looking at 10 am a leadership qualities. You know, as I go back to him and they are, I think about stewardship, I go to the weird family, I think about inclusion and teamwork. When I go to, when I look at senior Master Sergeant Snyder, I think about accountability. And then when I look at my first, when I see the first sergeant, I think about emotional intelligence, They embody those 10 airman leadership qualities that we hold at a higher standard within our enterprise. That’s why they represent the best and that’s why they make us so proud to represent us in the qualities that you have to make us a great organization continue to strive high. Each one of you could be up here on this stage, You’ve shown that you’re the best of the best and that’s what makes the difference because what makes organizations great is people. That’s what we must always focus on. That’s what drives an organization that takes it from good to great. So once again, hey, thank you for sharing the airmen that you brought up here for the organizations that are here and thank you leaders as the ball said for pouring into those and helping them grow with that success seemed to each one of them have always talk about a success. See that each individual have. And one thing about those successes as leaders. We fertilize them by inspiring and motivate them. We want them by giving them opportunities and that’s what makes organizations grow. So once again you’re the best of the best and we appreciate everything you do and I don’t want you did in the past what you’re gonna do for in the in the future. So once again, hey, let’s give him a round of applause. Mhm. Yeah. Mhm. Yeah. Mhm. Thank you General Lodin Chief Williams at this time we will now begin our awards presentation. The following awards presentation will honor four outstanding airmen from our Air National Guard. The competitive process of selecting from the 54 states and territories and the district has led to these leaders from our 92,000 enlisted Air National Guard members. Each of them represent the core values that embody today’s American airmen. During the following presentation, the awardees will receive a medallion from General Low and a crystal trophy from Chief Williams. The Madonna is an accolade that denotes honor for representing the core values of the Air Force integrity. First service before self and excellence in all we do. The crystal trophy that is etched with the Minuteman is presented to embody the history of the Volunteer militia. The Minutemen were well trained and no one to be ready in a minute’s notice Today, our 21st Century Guard airmen are trained to protect our community, our country that we serve and to defend freedom worldwide. The Citizen Airman is Mission 1st. People, always Ladies and Gentlemen. The 2021 Air National Guard Outstanding Airman of the Year in the urban category. From the 203rd weather flight Pennsylvania Air National Guard Senior Airman Ruth and Bell Airman Bell enlisted into the Pennsylvania Air National Guard in 2017. Following completion of weather forecast apprentice school, she supported joint training events for the 28th expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigade and Counter Drug Joint Task Force. She volunteered to fill a 180-day deployment in support of Operation Inherent Resolve, Providing weather support for 26 aircraft protecting over $655 million dollars of the United States assets. Airman Bell is also credited with saving the lives of two citizens in a car accident. She heroically communicated with emergency medical technicians to treat the personnel resulting in her being given the Civil Air Patrol lifesaving award. Yeah, yeah. Mhm. The noncommissioned officer from the 120th Airlift Wing Montana Air National Guard is the late Master Sergeant Tyler were sergeant. We’re began his military career in 2000 and eight as an active-duty T 56 aerospace propulsion specialist Following aerospace propulsion technical training. He was assigned to Little Rock Air Force Base 19th equipment maintenance squadron In 2012. He joined the era Montana National Guard. He served as a program manager engineer for the test cell Identifying Propeller shortfalls culminating in saving $2.4 million dollars in Air National Guard assets. He facilitated 533 maintenance actions while supervising 19 airmen over to work shifts, resulting in a 35% increase in the wings yearly mission capabilities. Sergeant were was also awarded the Montana Air National Guard noncommissioned officer Outstanding Airman of the year. Yeah. Mhm. Yeah. Okay. Yeah. The Air National Guard Senior noncommissioned officer of the year from the 2/100 Red Horse Squadron located at Camp Perry Ohio. Air National Guard. A senior Master Sergeant, Mark Schneider. Sarin Schneider is the pavement construction superintendent. He enlisted in the Ohio Air National Guard in 2002 as a construction equipment operator. As an experienced senior noncommissioned officer. He coordinated the three 32nd Air expeditionary wings, emergency fire response safeguarding $160 million ammunition assets And $75 million dollars in aircraft assets. He also spearheaded the senior noncommissioned officer and noncommissioned officer leadership course, Which included 37 airmen for 16 hours leadership courses. Of course, nine Air Force specialty codes. Additionally, Sarin Snyder represents the Air National Guard as one of the Air Force’s 12 outstanding airmen of the year. Yeah. Yeah. Mhm. Okay. Thank you. Yeah. Okay. The first Sergeant of the year from the one 87th aeromedical evacuation squadron. Wyoming Air National Guard is Master sergeant, john Stephen Sergeant Stephen is the principal advisor to the squadron commander on program personnel programs, enlisted pro career progression and the welfare of members and their families. He enlisted in the United States Air Force in 2004 as a security forces apprentice after serving several years on active duty, he joined the Wyoming Air National Guard While deployed, he advised to group commanders and six squadron commanders which supported 285 joint personnel spanning 71 Air Force specialty codes for operation, inherent resolve. Sergeant stevens, influence and leadership inspired 451 expeditionary wing airman. He taught 13 professional development courses leading to teams with a total of 13 members. This investment in those airmen was recognized with the United States Air Force Central Command and Wing level achievements. Lastly, first Sergeant Deegan was directly instrumental in his deployed unit, covid 19 response by authorizing its quarantine plan, securing 24-hour care, and ensuring there was no disruption and continued combat intel operations. Mhm. Mhm. At this time, well, all of our Outstanding Airman of the Year winners, please return to the stage and join general low and chief Williams. Mhm. Mhm. Okay. Mhm. Ladies and gentlemen, The 2021 Air National Guard Outstanding Airman of the Year. Mhm. Yeah. Mhm. Yeah mm. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Yeah. Ladies and gentlemen, we have some additional presentations to make it this time from us. A Chief Master Sergeant. Retired smith, Thank you very much and congratulations to the winners uh during my tenure here at the National Guard Bureau. This was the special week honoring the best of the best every year. Debbie and I look forward to it every year that we were here so we could bring in the standing area of the Air National Guard and salute them and honor them and showcase them and we continue that. I got to continue that at U. S. A. Uh for for many years. And this year we started three weeks ago with the soldiers of the Army National Guard in Flagstaff Arizona by sponsoring the awards dinner. We moved on here to D. C. Hope you enjoyed the Ballgame and the barbecue last night and so on behalf of the many, many members and employees of U. S. A. I want to present each of you a check and I think you’ll like it. It’s not bad. Okay, so congratulations. Oops, I gotta say there goes your script. Very good.. Okay. Okay, thank you Chief smith from the enlisted Association of the National Guard of the United States Sergeant Major. Retired Matthew Krenz. Okay. Mhm. Good morning. Uh it’s a pleasure to to have the opportunity to stand in front of you guys today and present the awards that we have on behalf of the illicit Association of the National Guard. Your dedication, your hard work represents the very best that the National Guard has to offer. And as the illicit association of the National Garden we’re proud to be able to stand behind you and support you as we move forward in the future. So thank you very much. We have a little token of appreciation to present each one of the awardees. Yeah thank you. Sergeant Major Prince from Geico. Retired Command Sergeant Major James. Gordon? Thank you. And on behalf of Geico um as the newest rep for Geico they finally hired a National Guard Commands are major to represent Geico in the National Guard uh which is a good thing and uh so it’s a great honor to be here to um honor these special airman and uh like said we were just out in Flagstaff and honored the soldiers of the year. But um it’s always great to be at these events and honor great Americans like like on the stage so on behalf of Geico like to present each one of them a gift card and a coin and thank you for inviting me and Geico plans on being at all these for now on. So thank you. Yeah. Yeah yeah thank you Mr. Gordon? At this time we would like to invite the family members of our outstanding airmen to please come forward join General Low Chief Williams and the winners on stage for a group photo. Yeah yeah thank you. General Low Chief Williams. Award winners and families. Mhm. Mhm. Mhm. Mhm ladies and gentlemen please join us in congratulating our Outstanding Airman of the Year through a receiving line in the front of the stage. Immediately following the ceremony, please stand for the playing of the Air Force song. Mhm. You know what to do with this? Okay. Mhm. So ladies and gentlemen, again, we’re gonna establish a receiving line. A receiving line here. Thank you trying. Yeah. Okay. I just wanted let me do it now or just right. It says after the after the line. Thank you. Yes sir.