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Fighter duty technician named best in AF

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. John Gordinier
  • 20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. --  A sergeant here earned the title Air Force 2007 Fighter Duty Technician of the Year out of a field of approximately 120 FDTs Air Force-wide.

Lt. Gen. Daniel Darnell, DCF for operation and plans, is scheduled to present an award to Staff Sgt. Ryan Fausey, 682nd Air Support Operations Squadron fighter duty technician, for his accomplishments, during a formal awards banquet March 6 at the Pentagon.

Sergeant Fausey received word about the win during his squadron's Christmas party, Dec. 14.

"My leadership pulled me up on stage in front of everyone to tell me the news," Sergeant Fausey said. "At first, I thought I was in trouble until they told me I had won Fighter Duty Technician of the Year. It was a nice surprise."

A fighter duty technician's job is mainly command and control, Sergeant Fausey said. An FDT goes into the theater and provides support to the joint terminal attack controllers and aircrew.

"It's all about getting the aircraft to the target safely and helping them prosecute targets efficiently," he said.

Sergeant Fausey said one of the major impacts that helped him accomplish FTD of the year was implementing, training and utilizing the new Air Support Operations Center Gateway.

"The new (technology equipment) dramatically improves situational awareness and speeds up the kill chain," the sergeant said. "The ASOC gateway will make a huge impact for the Air Force in the future."

Besides being an asset to the ASOC mission, Sergeant Fausey is admired from his peers and supervision.

"Sergeant Fausey is one the finest FDTs I've worked with in my eight years of being a TACP," said Staff Sgt. Justin Cremer, 682nd ASOS. "He figures out ways to work smarter, not harder, and also keeps his Airman's needs at the forefront of his daily tasks. He is a quiet professional who epitomizes and outshines his FDT peers on almost any TACP topic."

"He is an outstanding leader and a true mentor for his subordinates," said Capt. Amanda Springfield, 682nd ASOS A Flight commander and supervisor of Sergeant Fausey. "His expertise has enhanced current operations and has set the tone for continuous improvements for future operations."