KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. -- The Department of the Air Force recognized its top safety performers, highlighting their dedication to safeguarding Airmen and Guardians and exemplifying the key tenets of an effective combat team by infusing risk management and operational discipline into all facets of planning, preparation, execution, and assessment.
"The Air and Space Forces face increasingly complex challenges, and safety is more critical than ever," emphasized Maj. Gen. Sean Choquette, Chief of Safety for the Department of the Air Force. "This demands a fundamental shift in our approach to risk management. The actions of these awardees protected our most valuable asset – our people – and preserved our combat power for the future fight."
The annual awards program acknowledges individuals, teams, and organizations for their exceptional contributions to safety culture, risk management, and accident prevention.
"This year saw an incredibly competitive pool of nominees," said Choquette. "Congratulations awardees on representing the leading edge of safety innovation. Your work improved warfighting readiness, ensuring we remain the world's strongest and most lethal Air and Space Forces."
The Department of the Air Force is proud to announce the following recipients of the FY24 Safety Awards:
Secretary of the Air Force Safety Award
Pacific Air Forces
This award recognizes the MAJCOM/FLDCOM/DRU/FOA with the most effective overall safety program.
Major General Benjamin D. Foulois Memorial Award
Air Mobility Command
This award recognizes the MAJCOM/FLDCOM/DRU/FOA with the most effective flight safety program.
Koren Kolligian Jr. Trophy
Maj. Harrison Green (661st Aeronautical Systems Squadron, Air Force Materiel Command)
This award recognizes outstanding airmanship by a Total Force individual aircrew member in the U.S. Air Force. The crewmember must show extraordinary skill, alertness, ingenuity, or proficiency in averting or minimizing the seriousness of an aviation mishap during flight or intent for flight.
Colonel Will L. Tubbs Memorial Award for Occupational Safety
United States Air Forces in Europe-United States Air Forces Africa
This award recognizes the MAJCOM/FLDCOM/DRU/FOA with the most effective ground safety program.
DAF Safety Civilian Professional of the Year Award
Kevin Jones (Air Force Special Operations Command, Hurlburt Field Air Force Base, Fla.)
DAF Safety Noncommissioned Officer of the Year Award
Staff Sgt. Johnathan Mercer (100 Air Refueling Wing, Royal Air Force Mildenhall, United Kingdom)
DAF Safety Senior Noncommissioned Officer of the Year Award
Master Sgt. Jon Reed (2 Bomb Wing, Barksdale Air Force Base, La.)
DAF Safety Officer of the Year Award
Maj. David Burt (492 Special Operations Wing, Hurlburt Field, Fla.)
Chief of Safety Special Achievement Award
Rapid Response/Failure Analysis Internal Development Capability (Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio)
Chief of Safety Aircrew of Distinction Award
SULLY 1/SULLY 2 (435 Fighter Training Squadron, Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas)
Chief of Safety Aviation Individual Maintenance Safety Award
Tech.Sgt. Bradley R. Knapp (412 Maintenance Squadron, Edwards Air Force Base, Calif.)
Chief of Safety Aviation Team Maintenance Safety Award
36 Maintenance Squadron Production Team (Andersen Air Force Base, Guam)
Chief of Safety Outstanding Achievement Award Category I
502 Air Base Wing Safety Office (Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, Texas)
Chief of Safety Outstanding Achievement Award Category II
673 Air Base Wing Occupational Safety (Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska)
Chief of Safety Outstanding Achievement Award Category III
66th Air Base Group Safety Office (Hanscom Air Force Base, Mass.)
Chief of Safety Outstanding Achievement Award Category IV
36th Wing (Anderson Air Force Base, Guam)
Chief of Safety Outstanding Achievement Award Category V
436 Training Squadron (Dyess Air Force Base, Texas).
Occupational Safety Career Professional of the year
Tech. Sgt. Brianna Taylor (1 Special Operations Wing, Hurlburt Field, Fla.)
Occupational Safety Civilian Professional of the year
Jonathan Murphy (22 Air Refueling Wing, McConnell Air Force Base, Kan.)
Chief of Safety Outstanding Space Safety Program Award
Space Launch Delta 30 Safety Team (Vandenberg Space Force Base, Calif.)
Chief of Safety Team Space Safety Award
Space Delta 12 (Schriever Space Force Base, Colo.)
Assured Access to Space Engineering Safety Team (Space Systems Command, Los Angeles Air Force Base, Calif.)
Chief of Safety Individual Space Safety Award
1st Lt. Philip Charles (Space Systems Command, Los Angeles Air Force Base, Calif.)
Lt. Col. Danielle Ozment (Space Delta 12, Schriever Space Force Base, Colo.)
Catherine Mott (Air Force Research Laboratory, Det 3, Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M.)
Francis McDougall (Space Systems Command, Los Angeles Air Force Base, Calif.)
Chief of Safety Individual Weapons Safety Award
Tech. Sgt. Troy Leyvas (18 Wing, Kadena Air Base, Japan)
Chief of Safety Team Weapons Safety Award
75th Air Base Wing Weapons Safety Office (Hill Air Force Base, Utah)
Chief of Safety Individual Nuclear Surety Award
Richard Harrison (Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center, Hill Air Force Base, Utah)
Chief of Safety Team Nuclear Surety Award
48th Fighter Wing Weapons Safety Office (Royal Air Force Lakenheath, United Kingdom)
Aero Club Safety Certificates
Eglin Air Force Base Aero Club
Dover Air Force Base Aero Club
Yokota Air Base Aero Club