Tinker sergeant named one of Air Force's best Airmen Published Aug. 6, 2010 By John Stuart 72nd Air Base Wing Public Affairs TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- A four-star general doesn't often call an Airman in the field, but on July 27 Master Sgt. James Mogren picked up the phone and heard the voice of Air Force Materiel Command Commander Gen. Donald Hoffman on the other end of the line. What came next was good news as Sergeant Mogren, 72nd Security Forces Squadron superintendent of logistics, learned he was one of the Air Force's 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year. "Sergeant Mogren is a warrior and a servant," said Maj. Gen. David Gillett, Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center commander. "He deserves this recognition because of his many accomplishments, and I am proud of him." Officially announced a winner Aug. 4, Sergeant Mogren joined the elite handful of eight other Tinker Airmen to earn the prestigious award since its 1956 inception. "I was more at a loss for words than anything else," Sergeant Mogren said about hearing the news. "I went home that night and was talking to my wife. She said, 'What do you think?' I just said, 'I don't know how to take it in yet.'" Sergeant Mogren earned the award in large part for his meritorious service while on a 277-day Afghanistan deployment in 2009. While on patrol, Sergeant Mogren's vehicle was hit with an improvised explosive device. In the moments after the blast, the security forces sergeant went to work, administering first aid to wounded team members and called in close air support for medical evacuation. In his own words, Sergeant Mogren was just doing his job. It was a job that earned him a Bronze Star. "I love helping people out," Sergeant Mogren said of his work. "It is an everyday job, with new challenges." The next year will be a busy one for Sergeant Mogren. What first attracted him to the Air Force 21 years ago was the prospect of travel. With nine deployments under his boots -- seven of them to the Middle East -- he's certainly accomplished that during his career. Now as part of the honor of being named an outstanding Airman, he's looking at a travel schedule that will require about one week of temporary duty per month. He looks forward to being on the move once again. Though his current duties remain the same, being named one of the 12 outstanding Airmen means Sergeant Mogren will become a liaison between Airmen and upper-tier leadership. He will serve on several advisory boards with fellow outstanding Airmen, and will have direct access to the under secretary of the Air Force, among other duties. Sergeant Mogren and his wife, Eva, will spend a week in Washington, D.C., with the other 11 outstanding Airmen as the Air Force Association conducts its annual conference. The Airmen and their spouses will be introduced to Congress and may even meet the president, Sergeant Mogren said. Sergeant Mogren emphasizes he was merely doing his job in Afghanistan. It wasn't anything that was beyond what was expected, he said. But one thing is abundantly clear: Sergeant Mogren is committed to his Airmen at Tinker. He has a simple mantra that guides his actions. "My motto has always been -- if I take care of my troops, they're going to take care of us," he said. "I always hope that people would say, 'He took care of his Airmen, took care of the troops.' That's what I try to do." The next year will be a momentous one for the Air Force cop. Always quick to shift the spotlight, Sergeant Mogren thinks he will be out of his element with the pomp and circumstance shown the Outstanding 12. But there's a reason he earned the award -- his heart is in the right place. He'll use the experience to better those around him. "I'm going to enjoy myself and just try to make the most of it," Sergeant Mogren said.