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9th Air Force Outstanding Airmen of the Year

SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. - Former Sumter Mayor Steve Creech and the current Chairman of the Military Affairs Committee for City Council (center), speaks to the 2011 9th Air Force Outstanding Professionals of the Year (OPY), while attending a civic leader discussion panel at Shaw Air Force Base, S.C. on March 21, 2012. The panel was one of many events held for 9th AF OPY that were visiting the base. Award winners attended a wounded warrior presentation, a civic leader panel discussion, a tour of the Battle of Camden site, a professional development seminar and a banquet in their honor. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Neil Warner/Released)

9th Air Force Outstanding Professionals of the Year

A panel of civic leaders, representing all seven of the 9th Air Force’s active-duty wings, speaks to Outstanding Professional of the Year program attendees at the Carolina Skies Club, Shaw Air Force Base, S.C. March 21, 2012. The civic leaders talked to OPY guests about ways military members can improve, develop and maintain positive relationships with their communities. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Neil D. Warner/Released)

OPY

Maj. Gen. Lawrence Wells, 9th Air Force commander, left, and Chief Master Sgt. Robert Brooks, 9th Air Force command chief, right, stand with Tech. Sgt. Alejandro Rodriguez and his wife Amanda, after presenting Sergeant Rodriguez with a medallion March 21 for winning Noncommissioned Officer of the Year. Sergeant Rodriguez is a member of the 20th Civil Engineer Squadron Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit, Shaw Air Force Base, S.C.

9th Air Force Outstanding Professionals of the Year

Staff Sgt. Benjamin Seekell talks to 9th Air Force Outstanding Professional of the Year program attendees about his experience as a Wounded Warrior at the Carolina Skies Club, Shaw Air Force Base, S.C. March 21, 2012. The Wounded Warrior program helps service members who have combat or hostile-related injuries or illnesses receive professional support and care from the point of injury, through separation or retirement, for life. Sergeant Seekell, a military working dog handler for the 4th Fighter Wing Security Forces Squadron, Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C., lost the lower part of his left leg while serving in Afghanistan in 2011. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Neil D. Warner/Released)

9th Air Force Outstanding Professionals of the Year

David Reuwer, American Revolutionary War Association president, leads a tour of the Battle of Camden, a Revolutionary War site, at Camden S.C. March 21, 2012. The battle stopped the British from moving further inland during the Revolutionary War in 1780. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Neil D. Warner/Released)

9th Air Force Outstanding Professionals of the Year

9th Air Force recognizes OPY winners at Shaw

Published March 23, 2012
By Staff Sgt. Amanda Currier
9th Air Force/USAFCENT Public Affairs

SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. -- Leaders and top performers from across 9th Air Force gathered at Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., March 20 to 22, 2012, for the 9th Air Force Outstanding Professional of the Year recognition program.

As part of the program, the 9th Air Force commander distinguished eight exceptional performers as the 2011, 9th Air Force Outstanding Professionals of the Year during an award banquet.

"It truly is recognition of people we have designated as being the best of the best," said Maj. Gen. Lawrence Wells, 9th Air Force commander.

Annually, 9th Air Force professionals across seven active-duty wings compete for the title of 9th Air Force Outstanding Professional of Year, in eight categories. The OPY categories are: Airman, noncommissioned officer, senior noncommissioned officer, first sergeant, company grade officer, field grade officer, category one civilian, and category two civilian. The 2011, 9th Air Force OPY winners will now compete for command-level awards at Air Combat Command.

"I can guarantee you of all the professionals we recognized, none of them sat down and said 'I want to win this award,'" General Wells said during the OPY banquet honoring the winners. "They are all very humble. They are all very, very interested in what they're doing, but they are also very shy. It took leaders, supervisors, first sergeants and family members to allow them to do what they have to do."

This year's theme was "looking forward through the lens of history." Nuggets of historical information were sprinkled throughout the three-day OPY program. For example, OPY participants toured a Revolutionary War Memorial and the Camden Battle Field site, both in Camden, S.C. Also, during the official award banquet, some Airmen modeled historical Air Force uniforms dating back through the years to 1947, when the Air Force officially became its own military branch.

Additionally, the OPY winners received several hours of professional development training.

"These are your hard chargers, the folks in the organization who get things done," said Senior Master Sgt. Robin Brooks, 20th Fighter Wing Medical Support Squadron superintendent, who led the professional development portion of OPY. "It's a great way to get their ideas of areas we need to focus on back at their respective wings, to make sure our focus is in the right place, to ensure we are training, equipping and organizing our troops for the greater good of the Air Force."

During the professional development piece of OPY, winners learned about how to have influence in their organizations, on their leaders, peers and subordinates. They also studied some trends that could potentially affect Airmen, especially those of younger generations, such as drugs and gang affiliation. Additionally, they took personality tests to help identify their leadership strengths and weaknesses, said Senior Master Sgt. Brooks.

Winners and their guests also learned ways to develop, improve and maintain positive relationships with their local communities from a panel of panel of civic leaders, representing all the 9th Air Force's active-duty wings.

"The professional development tools we're learning are outstanding. The tour of the historical battlefield was outstanding. The board with the civic leaders from across 9th Air Force gave a great eye-opening perspective on how we can improve military/community relationships," said Senior Master Sgt. Ronald Thompson, Senior Noncommissioned Officer of the Year, and operations superintend ant for the 58th Rescue Squadron, Nellis Air Force Base, Nev.

I really enjoyed getting to come to Shaw and meeting other winners from across 9th Air Force and getting exposed to not just the 9th Air Force Commander and command chief, but also to the wing commanders and their command chiefs - and getting a little of their perspectives."

The 2011 Outstanding Professionals of the Year are:

Airman of the Year: Senior Airman Luke Dryden, 23rd Wing, Moody AFB, Ga.
Noncommissioned Officer of the Year: Tech Sgt. Alejandro Rodriguez, 20th
Fighter Wing, Shaw AFB, S.C.

Senior Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year: Senior Master Sgt. Ronald Thompson, 23rd Wing, Moody AFB, Ga.

First Sergeant of the Year: Master Sgt. Steven Mathews, 633rd Air Base Wing, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va.

Company Grade Officer of the Year: 1st Lt. Candace Lucas, 633rd Air Base Wing,

Field Grade Officer of the Year: Maj. Eric Music, 93rd Air Ground Operations
Wing, Moody AFB, Ga.

Civilian of the Year, Category One: Victor Miller, 4th Fighter Wing, Seymour
Johnson AFB, N.C.

Civilian of the Year, Category Two: Christine Garrett, 633rd Air Base Wing, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va.