Article Display

9th Air Force announces 12 Outstanding Performers

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Amanda Savannah
  • 9 AF/CENTAF Public Affairs
SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C --  The 9th Air Force announced its Outstanding Performers of the Year during a banquet March 2 at Shaw Air Force Base, S.C. 

The Outstanding Performers were chosen from the winners in each category from 9th Air Force's five wings, three direct reporting units and its headquarters. 

"The 9th Air Force Outstanding Performers of the Year program is designed to recognize Airman and civilian superior performers of the year," said Chief Master Sgt. Todd Small, 9th Air Force command chief. "They represent the 25,000 9th Air Force members who, every day, do great things to enable the command to meet its mission taskings."

Senior Master Sgt. Randy Thompson from the 1st Logistics Readiness Squadron at Langley AFB, Va., was named 9th Air Force Senior NCO of the Year. 

"Being named one of 9th Air Force's Outstanding Performers of the Year is an awesome accomplishment," he said. "But to win I didn't get here by myself. This was a total team effort of the 1st Fighter Wing. I owe this to my coworkers and the supervisors who gave me the right tools and resources. This is a direct reflection of everyone who works under and above me, so I thank them for that." 

The winners are: 

Airman 

Airman 1st Class Crystal Moore, 20th Security Forces Squadron, Shaw. Airman Moore conducted an extensive search for a lost 7-year-old child on Shaw who was found and returned home. She also detected and processed eight DUI suspects, removing the driving hazard from Shaw's streets and was the first patrol on scene of a heart attack victim in base housing and directed responding medics. 

NCO 

Staff Sgt. Geoffrey Welsh, 4th SFS, Seymour Johnson AFB, N.C. Sergeant Welsh braved indirect fire to clear a route for 48 military and Iraqi police members, immediately engaging the enemy to repel the attack. While under direct fire, he also conducted an explosive sweep during an anti-Iraqi forces ambush on an Army supply convoy in Abu Hanifa. 

Senior NCO 

Sergeant Thompson filled a chief master sergeant billet for the Air Force's second-largest logistics readiness squadron, directing 82 individuals, five sections and seven warehouses containing $320 million in inventory. He also modernized the Quality Deficiency Program, slicing the number of overdue reports from 261 to 13, returning $8.9 million to maintenance units. 

First sergeant 

Senior Master Sgt. Scott Delveau, 728th Air Control Squadron, Eglin AFB, Fla. Sergeant Delveau was handpicked for the highest operations tempo unit in the 33rd Fighter Wing, leading more than 450 individuals. As first sergeant, he was responsible for the unit's Operation Iraqi Freedom deployment to Iraq, preparing 186 people for combat operations. 

Company grade officer

Capt. Kevin Hornburg, 1st Fighter Wing, Langley. Captain Hornburg provided crucial leadership during the 94th Fighter Squadron transition from Eagles to Raptors, ensuring the readiness of the Air Force's second F-22 operations squadron. He also flawlessly planned and executed the largest F-22 deployment to date, which included two locations, 16 aircraft and 250 people on a $2 million budget. 

Junior civilian 

WG-11 Bradley Pabst, 4th Component Maintenance Squadron, Seymour Johnson. Mr. Babst completed 337 maintenance actions, maintaining a 100-percent quality rate and earning induction into the flight "Quality Honor Roll." He also combined three unserviceable Fire Control test sets to make two functional units, saving $861,000. 

Senior civilian 

GS-13 Loretta Vega, 1st Services Squadron, Langley. Ms. Vega piloted the squadron to win best in Air Combat Command for its food service, officers' club, library and community center. She also tirelessly pursued and attained more than $3 million in funds for replacement of hurricane-damaged equipment for six facilities. 

Before the awards banquet, the nominees enjoyed two days of pre-events at Shaw, including a meet-and-greet social and a camaraderie event. 

"We bring a lot of people together to make these events happen," said Senior Master Sgt. Shelly Bowens, 9th Air Force command section superintendent and co-chair for the OPY events. "We work hard together to meet the senior leaders' intent of making this a first-class event. Without the individual efforts from a variety of enlisted members, officers, on- and off-base agencies and our sponsors, we could not be successful." 

The winners in the Airman, NCO, SNCO, and First Sergeant categories continue on to compete at Air Combat Command. Winners at the ACC competitions then contend for recognition as the Air Force's 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year or First Sergeant of the Year. 

Although being named an Outstanding Performer is a great honor, it is also a great responsibility, Sergeant Bowens said. 

"A huge responsibility has been bestowed on these Airmen, knowing they have been announced the best of the best," she said. "It ensures they will be watched as role models and as the best in 9th Air Force. They should take that very seriously."

Chief Small then expressed his congratulations to the winners. 

"The Airmen of the United States Air Force are among the most capable, credible and faithful members of American society," Chief Small said. "Whether you work in an office, on the flightline, in a maintenance back shop or the dining facility, this (Outstanding Performer) selection sets you apart as a member of the most outstanding group of Airmen and civilians in the Air Force. Truly, a job well done."