General Schwartz kicks off AFA convention

  • Published
  • By Senior Master Sgt. Matt Proietti
  • Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs
WASHINGTON (AFPN) --  The Air Force Association's 24th Annual Air & Space Conference and Technology Exposition got underway here Sept. 15.

In remarks to open the conference, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton A. Schwartz said service leaders will work to regain America's trust by improving its performance, citing work done by Airmen since it became a separate service from the Army Sept. 18, 1947.

"I'm proud of what we've done collectively these past 61 years," he said. "We share that common ethic of those who said, 'Send me.'"

The conference and exposition runs through Sept. 17 at a Washington hotel. The AFA is an independent, nonprofit, civilian education organization promoting public understanding of aerospace power and the role it plays in nation's defense.

Speakers also include Acting Secretary of the Air Force Michael B. Donley. During a ceremonial ribbon-cutting ceremony to denote the start of the event, Mr. Donley welcomed conference attendees and said the Air Force has a central, critical role in the joint team.

This is the association's first conference since Secretary Donley and General Schwartz took over their respective roles earlier this summer.

Later in the morning, AFA representatives presented the organization's national aerospace awards to:

-- The 906th Air Refueling Squadron, Grand Forks Air Force Base, N.D., received the David C. Schilling award for meritorious service in operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom.

-- Air Education and Training Command received the Hoyt S. Vandenberg award for revitalizing Air University.

-- Maj. Benjamin W. Spencer, 1st Special Operations Equipment Maintenance Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Fla., received the Thomas P. Gerrity award for distinguished service as a logistics leader and commander of the 1st Expeditionary Special Operations Maintenance Squadron.

-- Chaplain (Capt.) Erik G. Harp, Ramstein Air Base, Germany, received the Air Force Chaplain Service Award for his work in the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany.

-- Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Steven E. West, Whiteman AFB, Mo., received the Air Force Chaplain Service Award for leading a staff of 12 who gave spiritual care to Airmen at Joint Base Balad, Iraq.

-- Capt. Becky M. Bautch, Elmendorf AFB, Alaska, received the Juanita Redmond award for her medical work while deployed to a hospital at Joint Base Balad.

-- Col. Evan L. Haberman, Bolling AFB, D.C., received the Stuart R. Reichart award for distinguished service during his more than 28-year military career.

-- Lt. Col. (Dr.) Kirk A. Milhoan, Lackland AFB, Texas, received the Paul W. Myers award for distinguished service as a flight surgeon in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

-- Timothy M. Boudreaux, Schriever AFB, Colo., received the Outstanding Civilian Senior Manager of the Year award for his work with the Space Innovation and Development Center.

-- The 561st Joint Tactics Squadron, Nellis AFB, Nev., received the Gen. George C. Kenney Award for Lessons Learned for improvements made during its first full year of existence, which included providing support to Airmen deployed to operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom.

-- The Air National Guard/Air Force Reserve Command Test Center ARC-210 Test Team received the Howard W. Leaf award for responding to urgent requests from deployed Airmen for improved secure line-of-sight and beyond line-of-sight communications for F-16 Fighting Falcon and A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft.

-- The crew of Bone 11 from the 9th Bomb Squadron, Dyess AFB, Texas, received the Gen. Curtis E. LeMay award for its work during Operation Valiant Pursuit.

-- Crew S-230 from the 341st Operations Support Squadron, Malmstrom AFB, Mont., received the Gen. Thomas S. Power award for its work during an inspection of the 341st Space Wing.

-- The crew of Crome 46, 2nd Airlift Squadron, Pope AFB, N.C., received the Lt. Gen. William H. Tunner award for distinguished flying while attached to the 737th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron. Led by Maj. Paul A. Pepe, they avoided three missiles to save the aircraft and the lives of three senators and a U.S. representative who were aboard.

-- Maj. Richard J. Piazza, 23rd Operations Support Squadron, Moody AFB, Ga., received the Lt. Gen. Claire Chennault award for authoring a paper that set the foundation for future A-10C tactics.

-- Members of the crew of Python 76, made up of Airmen from Offutt AFB, Neb., received the Gen. Jerome O'Malley award for saving lives by foiling multiple anti-coalition military ambushes.

-- Charlie crew from the 4th Space Control Squadron, Holloman AFB, N.M., was named the Best Space Operations Crew.

-- The aircrew Woody 26 from Royal Air Force Mildenhall, United Kingdom, earned the Brig. Gen. Ross G. Hoyt award for conducting nighttime air-refueling of a 10-ship helicopter package in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

-- A crew from the 16th Air Combat and Control Squadron, 116th Air Control Wing, Robins AFB, Ga., received the Airborne Battle Management Crew of the Year award for its work with the Joint Surveillance and Target Attack Radar System during 99 combat offensives.

-- The 437th Airlift Wing, Charleston AFB, S.C., received the Verne Orr award for its contributions to the war on terrorism.

-- Melanie R. Huk, whose spouse is assigned to the 31st Communications Squadron, Aviano AB, Italy, received the Joan Orr award for distinguished contributions and for her dedication to volunteerism.

-- Staff Sgt. Paul W. Hiller, 1st Special Operations Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Hurlburt Field, received the Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Thomas N. Barnes award for distinguished service as an AC-130H Spectre Gunship crew chief.

-- Senior Master Sgt. Matthew S. Miller, 375th Airlift Wing, Scott AFB, Ill., received the Gen. Billy Mitchell Award for C4 Excellence for his work as the lone embedded Air Force member assigned to three Army Ranger Infantry units.

-- Kay L. Lee of the 577th Aeronautical Systems Group, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, received the Air Force Association Award for Management (executive division).

-- The 110th Fighter Wing of the Michigan Air National Guard was named the Outstanding Air National Guard unit.

-- A crew from the 106th Rescue Wing, Francis S. Gabreski Air National Guard Base, N.Y., earned the Earl T. Ricks Award for distinguished service flying an HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

-- An aircrew from the 729th Airlift Squadron, March Air Reserve Base, Calif., won the President's Award for Air Force Reserve Command for distinguished service for its actions when faced with a smoke and fire hazard in the cargo compartment of a C-17 Globemaster III aircraft.

-- Master Sgt. Tracy S. Deason of the Air Force Personnel Center, Randolph AFB, Texas, received the Air Force Personnel Manager of the Year award.

-- Senior Airman Chad R. Rasmusen of the 419th Maintenance Squadron, Hill AFB, Utah, received the Air Force Reserve Citizen Airmen Award (enlisted category) for outstanding support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in conjunction with his civilian employer.

-- Lt. Col. Douglas B. Cox, a military judge at Bolling AFB, received the Air Force Reserve Citizen Airmen Award (officer category) for outstanding support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in conjunction with his civilian employer.

-- Staff Sgt. Daniel R. Wilcox of the 142nd Civil Engineer Squadron, Portland, Ore., received the Air National Guard George W. Bush Award (enlisted category) for outstanding support of operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom in conjunction with his civilian employer.

Capt. Michelle R. Mulberry, 187th Aeromedical Squadron, Cheyenne, Wyo., received the Air National Guard George W. Bush Award (officer category) for outstanding support of Operation Enduring Freedom in conjunction with her civilian employer.

Citations of honor were presented to:

-- The 327th Aircraft Sustainment Group for its work on the B-52 Stratofortress blended fuel program.

-- The 31st Intelligence Squadron, Fort Gordon, Ga., for distinguished service in providing combat intelligence support to joint combat operations in operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom.

-- Senior Master Sgt. Gabriel Hage, Randolph AFB, for distinguished service as a command vehicle management superintendent overseeing 165 Airmen as they executed combat convoy missions.

-- The 3rd Special Operations Squadron, Nellis AFB, for distinguished service in support of the war on terrorism.

-- Master Sgt. William L. Newman, 728th Air Control Squadron, Eglin AFB, Fla., for distinguished service while providing medical support and care during an Operation Iraqi Freedom deployment.