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U.S. Air Force Security

"Defensor Fortis" (Defender of the Force)


	News: Air Force names 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year (two are SF members)

	(Click to enlarge photo)				July 8, 2008

					Air Force Personnel Center

					Randolph AFB, TX

					The Air Force has selected its top enlisted members, the 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year for 2008.


					An Air Force selection board at the Air Force Personnel Center here considered 33 nominees who represented major commands, direct reporting units, field operating agencies and Air Staff agencies. The board selected the 12 based on superior leadership, job performance and personal achievements.
	Photo: U.S. Air Forces in Europe Commander Gen. Roger Brady, left and USAFE Command Chief Master Sergeant Pamela Derrow, right, stand with the USAFE 2007 Outstanding Airmen of the Year. They are (left to right) Category 2 Civilian of the Year: Mrs. Barbra Langmaid, 65th Air Base Wing, Lajes Field, Azores Category 1 Civilian of the Year: Mrs. Jeananne Creager, 48th Mission Support Group, RAF Lakenheath, United Kingdom; First Sergeant of the Year: Master Sgt. Kevin Drake, 48th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, RAF Lakenheath, United Kingdom; Airman of the Year – Senior Airman Alicia Goetschel, 100th Security Forces Squadron, RAF Mildenhall, United Kingdom; Noncommissioned Officer of the Year: Tech Sgt. Larnell Smith, 3rd Air Force A4 Directorate, Ramstein Air Base, Germany; Senior NCO of the Year: Senior Master Sgt. Timothy McLaughlin, USAFE A7 Directorate, Ramstein AB, Germany, Not pictured is the Company Grade Officer of the Year: Capt Ryan Crowley, 100th Civil Engineer Squadron, RAF Mildenhall, United Kingdom, who was unable to attend the banquet.



					The nominees are authorized to wear the Outstanding Airman of the Year ribbon, while the 12 winners will wear the bronze service star device on the ribbon. The winners will also wear the Outstanding Airman of the Year Badge for one year from the date of formal presentation.




					The winners are:

					Senior Master Sgt. Donna Goodno, San Diego ANG Station, Calif.
					Master Sgt. Carla Curry, Randolph Air Force Base, Texas
					Master Sgt. George Price, Jr., Patrick AFB, Fla.
					Tech. Sgt. James Caughron, McConnell AFB, Kan.
					Tech. Sgt. Earl Covel, Jr., Fort Lewis, Wash.
	(Click to enlarge photo)				Tech. Sgt. Jason Hughes, Elmendorf AFB, Alaska
					Tech. Sgt. Tammy Shaw, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
					Tech. Sgt. James Weltin, Patrick AFB
					Staff Sgt. Eric Eberhard, Hill AFB, Utah
					Senior Airman Mary Bullock, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
					Senior Airman Alicia Goetschel, Royal Air Force Mildenhall, UK (100th SFS)
					Senior Airman Shawn Ryan, Sheppard AFB, Texas (82nd SFS)

					The Air Force Association will honor the 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year during its Air and Space Conference and Technology Exposition in Washington, D.C., this September. The Airmen will also serve as members of the AFA's enlisted advisory council for the next year.

	Photo: SRA Shawn Ryan receiving the Combat Action Medal; Gen. William R. Looney III, Air Education and Training Commander, presents the Combat Action Medal to Senior Airman Shawn Ryan, 82nd Security Forces Squadron, Sheppard AFB, TX. SRA Shawn Ryan is also featured in our Purple Heart webpage; to visit SRA Shawn Ryan's Purple Heart webpage click here. A photo of SRA Ryan and the Airman of the Year award was not available at time of press release.


					For more information or media inquiries, contact the Air Force Personnel Center Public Affairs Office at (210) 565-2334.

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