ACC selects best communicators for 2008 Published Jan. 15, 2009 By Air Combat Command Public Affairs LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. -- Air Combat Command announced selections Dec. 30, for the 2008 ACC Public Affairs Awards for Communication Excellence. The awards recognize the best public affairs programs in ACC, and they encompass all facets of communication from multimedia to band efforts. "We are so pleased with the communication talents exhibited by our Public Affairs Airmen," said Col. Eric W. Schnaible, ACC Director of Public Affairs. "It's been a busy year, but several shops have risen to the occasion by expanding communication efforts in new and unique ways." The 432nd Air Wing Public Affairs staff, Creech AFB, Nev., received the top award for "Best Overall Communication Program" for their outstanding work in communicating the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle mission while the 55th Wing Public Affairs staff, Offutt AFB, Neb., captured the "Best Communication Effectiveness" award for their superb communication efforts planning and executing Air Force Week. The ACC/PA Outreach division received the "Best Innovative Communication Program" award for their unique strategies in marketing the ACC aerial demonstration teams. Winning top honors in the "Best Integrated Communication" category was 9th Air Force, Shaw AFB, S.C., for their effective and innovative multimedia merger strategies. Twelfth Air Force Public Affairs earned runner-up status for the Overall, Effectiveness, Innovative, and Integrated Communication categories. The 1st Fighter Wing Public Affairs, Langley AFB, Va., was also a runner-up for the "Best Overall Communication Program." The "Best Crisis Communication" award went to the 99th Air Base Wing Public Affairs, Nellis AFB, Nev., for their handling of an F-15 crash during a Red Flag exercise. The runner-up for the Crisis Communication category was the 33rd Fighter Wing Public Affairs office at Eglin AFB, Fla., for their response to an aircraft collision over the Gulf of Mexico. The 5th Bomb Wing, Minot AFB, N.D., earned the "Best Issues Management" award for a communication campaign designed to reduce the number of DUIs. The base public affairs shop partnered with downtown police officials to innovatively communicate to Airmen the DUI process and its consequences; DUI numbers dropped in half from last year. In addition, public affairs, band and multimedia Airmen competed for top positions as the best overall communicators in their respective rank and category. Winners in the following categories will be representing ACC/PA in the Air Force-level Public Affairs competition. Best Overall Communication Program Award: 432nd Wing PA, Creech AFB, Nev. Best Communication Effectiveness Award: 55th Wing PA, Offutt AFB, Neb. Best Crisis Communication Award: 99th Air Base Wing PA, Nellis AFB, Nev. Best Issues Management Award: 5th Bomb Wing PA, Minot AFB, N.D. Best Innovative Program Award: ACC/PAC, Langley AFB, Va. Best Integrated Communication Award: 9th Air Force PA, Shaw AFB, S.C. Outstanding Field Grade Officer: Major Elizabeth Ortiz, 5th BW/PA, Minot AFB, N.D. Outstanding FGO Runner-Up: Major John Elolf, 9 AF/PA, Shaw AFB, S.C. Outstanding Company Grade Officer: Captain Nathan Broshear, 12th Air Force PA, Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz. Outstanding CGO Runners-Up: 1st Lieutenant Matt Stines, 366 WG/PA, Mountain Home AFB, Idaho, and Captain Brooke Brander, 432 WG/PA, Creech AFB, Nev. Overall Outstanding Intermediate Grade Civilian: Mr. Mike Estrada, 99th ABW/PA, Nellis AFB, Nev. Outstanding Civilian Runner-Up: Mr. Doug Roe, Heartland of America Band, Offutt AFB, Neb. Overall Outstanding Senior NCO: Master Sergeant Steve Goetsch, ACC/PA, Langley AFB, Va. Outstanding SNCO Runner-Up and Wing-level Winner: Master Sergeant Brian Orban, Mountain Home, 366 WG/PA, Mountain Home AFB, Idaho. Overall Outstanding NCO: SSgt Rebecca Zannetti, 49th FW/PA, Holloman AFB, N.M. Outstanding NCO Runner-Up: Staff Sgt. Aileen Carter, 99 ABW/PA, Nellis AFB, Nev. Overall Outstanding Airman: Senior Airman John "Wes" Wright, 5th BW/PA, Minot AFB, N.D. Outstanding Airman Runner-Up: Airman 1st Class Samantha Crane, 366th FW/PA, Mountain Home AFB, Idaho. ACC Band Category winners are as follows: Outstanding Band Company Grade Officer: Captain Michael Willen, USAF Heartland of America Band, Offutt AFB, Neb. Outstanding Band Senior NCO: Master Sergeant Perez, USAF Heritage of America Band, Langley AFB, Va. Outstanding Band NCO: Technical Sergeant Joshua Gates, USAF Heritage of America Band, Langley AFB, Va. Outstanding Band Airman: Senior Airman David Beasley, USAF Heartland of America Band, Offutt AFB, Neb. The following "NAF & Above" individual PA excellence category winners came from ACC/PA, Langley AFB, Va.: Major Michelle Coghill for Outstanding FGO, Captain Jennifer Pearson for Outstanding CGO, Michelle Clougher for the Outstanding Intermediate Grade Civilian, Master Sergeant Steven Goetsch for Outstanding SNCO, Staff Sgt Josie Wise for Outstanding NCO, and and Senior Airman Matthew Clouse for Outstanding Airman.