An official website of the United States government
Here's how you know
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

AFMC announces, honors annual award winners

  • Published
  • By Kim Bowden
  • Air Force Materiel Command Public Affairs
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio --  Air Force Materiel Command hosted its top Airmen of 2014 during the command's Annual Excellence Awards event March 10 and 11, 2015.

Sixty-one Airmen from throughout AFMC's headquarters, centers and wings were nominated to compete in nine separate categories -- airman, non-commissioned officer, senior NCO, first sergeant, company grade officer, field grade officer, civilian category I, civilian category II and civilian category III.

In the past, the event and awards ceremony were for enlisted only, because winners in those categories go on to compete at the Air Force level. However, according to Chief Master Sgt. Michael Warner, AFMC command chief, the decision to expand the scope was simple.

"We decided that it didn't matter if there was further competition for our officers or civilians," Warner said. "Our team is comprised of enlisted, officer and civilian Airmen, and we needed to expand to recognize and celebrate the best of our entire team."

While they were here, the nominees had a detailed, command-focused itinerary. The enlisted Airmen met a face-to-face annual awards board. All the nominees networked with AFMC's senior leaders at a welcome reception, got to know community leaders from their base at a breakfast with the command's Community Liaison Program members and participated in several professional development sessions.

This year, those sessions included lunch with the center command chiefs, who highlighted the mission of each of AFMC's six centers. The nominees also got to tour certain programs that fall under the centers located here at Wright-Patterson -- the Battlefield Air Targeting, Man-Aided Knowledge (BATMAN) program and the 771th Patient Transportation and Aircraft Simulator.

For the culminating event -- the Annual Excellence Awards Banquet -- more than 300 family members, friends, community leaders and command officials gathered in the modern flight gallery of the National Museum of the United States Air Force to honor the nominees.

The winners are:

Airman Category - Senior Airman Natalie D. Norlock, Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center, Joint Base San Antonio, Texas. As a Contracting Specialist, Norlock executed 17 contract actions valued at $22 million, providing critical advisory support services to 10 bases. Additionally, she served as the Air Force Sergeants' Association Airman Activity coordinator where she organized monthly Fisher House dinners and four Veteran's Affairs hospital visits, catalyzing community interface opportunities for Joint Base San Antonio Airmen.

Non-Commissioned Officer Category - Staff Sgt. Kurtis V. Harrison, Air Force Test Center, Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. Harrison distinguished himself as a communications Project Manager when he won the 2014 AFMC Information Dominance NCO of the Year Award for his career field. He also earned 18 credits toward his bachelor's degree and made the Dean's List.  As vice president of the Eglin Junior Force Council, he chaired 11 subcommittees and amplified the professional development of 7,000 junior enlisted, officer and civilian personnel.

Senior Non-Commissioned Officer Category - Master Sgt. Raymond T. Hillis, Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. While deployed to Operation RESOLUTE SUPPORT, Hillis led 22 personnel, oversaw $6.9 million in assets and led 120 outside-the-wire combat missions and 280 convoys, resulting in award of the Bronze Star Medal. As the facility management NCOIC at home station, Hillis orchestrated a $2.8 million operating room integration by synchronizing dissimilar equipment packages, which directly contributed to the 88th Medical Group's distinction of being classified as number one in the Department of Defense for inpatient satisfaction.

First Sergeant Category - Master Sgt. Freda D. Dey, Air Force Test Center, Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. Dey's leadership as a First Sergeant was instrumental in piloting the Simple Hire organization with more than 26 military spouses and First Sergeants, providing more than 30 military dependent job offers and securing more than $900,000 additional income for four Wing and six Major Command families. Dey also created an e-learning course for two Ghana schools, teaching 120 students the English language and learning the Ghanaian language herself.

Company Grade Officer Category - Capt. Benjamin Carlson, Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center, Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida. Carlson showcased his leadership abilities while deployed as Contracting Officer Representative, Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan, where he drove completion of seven projects valued at $296 million, bolstering the Afghan National Security Force's ability to project combat power. During this period, he led 80 outside-the-wire missions, constructing 30 facilities, and was the catalyst to Afghan security force autonomy.

Field Grade Officer Category - Maj. Paul Cancino, Air Force Sustainment Center, Joint Base Langley, Virginia. As a Squadron Commander, Cancino championed a $181 million contracted logistics program, converting 328 multidisciplinary billets to civilian personnel, and reduced military sustainment manpower by 81 percent, critical to the Air Force reaching its 2015 Force Manning Level target. He also directed 155 personnel and redistributed 969 vehicles and 1,200 pieces of support equipment for immediate reuse throughout the Middle East, saving the Air Force $411 million in recapitalization costs.

Civilian Category I - Travis Adams, Air Force Sustainment Center, Hill Air Force Base, Utah. Adams used his technical expertise as an Equipment Specialist for the F-15 and F-16 wheel and brake programs, along with F-16 actuators, to gain approval for a new F-16 nose wheel design, which will dramatically improve reliability and lessen potential failures due to the installation of improper bearings. He also secured the new F-15 wheel and brake safety improvement program, which will save the Air Force countless hours in safety investigations and millions of dollars in Life Cycle Cost improvements.

Civilian Category II - Laura Letterman, Air Force Test Center, Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico. As a Mechanical Engineer, Letterman led the design for the Patriot Advanced Capability-3 Missile Segment Enhancement upgrade, the first hypersonic test series conducted at the Holloman High Speed Test Track in six years. She also performed aerodynamic analysis for the next-generation Kinetic Energy Projectile hypersonic impact program, as well as analysis on an Air Force Research Laboratory-sponsored program developing the next generation of highly-flexible dispense pods.

Civilian Category III - Theron Jones, Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Robins Air Force Base, Georgia. Jones distinguished himself as Director of Operations, Mobility and Vehicles Branch, by expertly leading a diverse team of 48 personnel encompassing 14 different integrated product teams while managing a portfolio of $450 million. Additionally, he presided over the Secretary of the Air Force's Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle streamlining initiative, where he created a $120 million fleet structure to modernize outdated equipment.

Gen. Janet Wolfenbarger, AFMC commander, hosted the awards ceremony. After congratulating all the nominees and winners on a job well done, she thanked them for their excellence.

"Our Airmen are absolutely our most important resource, and part of taking care of our people is recognizing when they set themselves apart," Wolfenbarger said. "That is what tonight is all about. I am proud of all of the Airmen in Air Force Materiel Command, but tonight we are celebrating truly the best of the best in this command. The nominees in this room are all already winners -- they made the cut at multiple levels and have demonstrated a repeated pattern of excellence."

The winners in the four enlisted categories will go on to represent AFMC in the United States Air Force Twelve Outstanding Airmen of the Year and First Sergeant of the Year competitions held later this year.