Honoring the best of ACC

  • Published
OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. --  The 55th Wing will host Air Combat Command's 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year Recognition Week, and nominees and their families around the globe will begin arriving here April 11.

The nominees earned their spot by winning individual honors at the numbered Air Force, center or major command levels in the following categories; Airman of the Year, Noncommissioned Officer of the Year, Senior Noncommissioned Officer of the Year, Honor Guardsman of the Year, Honor Guard Program Manager of the Year and First Sergeant of the Year.

Chief Master Sgt. Martin Klukas, ACC's command chief, said the nominees will meet a formal selection board comprised of seven chiefs who will evaluate the Airmen's written award packages, communication skills and military image. The board will take their recommendations directly to the commander of ACC.

Along with several professional development seminars, the nominees will also be able to experience the local area with their families and peers.

"This year's event is certain to be world-class as a direct result of an extraordinary collaborative effort between the ACC staff and the superior Airmen and civilians assigned to Offutt Air Force Base," Chief Klukas said.

The events of the week culminate with the ACC Outstanding Airmen of the Year banquet, April 21.

The ACC nominees are:

Outstanding Airman

Senior Airman Rojelio Voss, Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla.
Staff Sgt. Joseph Aton, Fort Hood, Texas
Senior Airman Cody Simpson, Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D.
Airman 1st Class Patrick Weller, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va.
Senior Airman Gidget Sanders, Shaw Air Force Base, S.C.
Senior Airman William Bennett, Nellis Air Force Base, Nev.

Outstanding Non-commissioned Officer

Staff Sgt. Miranda Demers, Canadian Forces, North Bay, Ontario, Canada
Tech. Sgt. Wayne Powell, Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C.
Staff Sgt. Brandon Harrison, Creech Air Force Base, Nev.
Tech. Sgt. Tia King, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va.
Staff Sgt. Hollie Lay, Shaw Air Force Base, S.C.
Tech. Sgt. Darrell Demotta, Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M.

Outstanding Senior Non-commissioned Officer

Master Sgt. Anne Norris, Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla.
Senior Master Sgt. Johnny Gavin, Moody Air Force Base, Ga.
Master Sgt. William Villareal, Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho
Senior Master Sgt. Robert Speigner, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va.
Senior Master Sgt. Timothy Green, Southwest Asia
Master Sgt. Lawanda Hansen, Nellis Air Force Base, Nev.

Outstanding Honor Guardsmen

Senior Airman Luis Vargas, Mountain Home, Idaho
Staff Sgt. Mitchell Bisson, Holloman Air Force Base, N.M.
Airman 1st Class Ulla Stromberg, Nellis Air Force Base, Nev.

Outstanding Honor Guard Program Manager

Tech. Sgt. Stacey Hines, Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C.
Staff Sgt. Erica Larsen, Shaw Air Force Base, S.C.
Tech. Sgt. Troy Bizzack, Holloman Air Force Base, N.M.

Outstanding First Sergeant

Master Sgt.'s Michael Dyer, Langley Air Force Base, Va.
Darryl Ross, Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho
Robert Brinkman, Offutt Air Force Base, Neb.
Mario Cefalo II, Southwest Asia
Boston Alexander, Nellis Air Force Base, Nev.

The members chosen as the 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year will go on to represent ACC at the Air Force-level competition.