AFMC Command News

AFMC member honored as one of Air Force's Top 12 Outstanding Airmen

  • Published
RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (AFNS) --  Air Force officials here July 2 selected the service's top enlisted members, naming the 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year for 2009.

One of those winners is Tech Sgt Benjamin Horton from Hill AFB, Utah.  Sergeant Horton works in the 775th Civil Engineering Squadron and was deployed when he won the Air Force Materiel Command non-commissioned officer of the year award in April.   

An Air Force selection board at the Air Force Personnel Center considered 33 nominees who represented major commands, direct reporting units, field operating agencies and Air Staff agencies to select the 12 based on superior leadership, job performance and personal achievements.

The nominees are authorized to wear the Outstanding Airman of the Year Ribbon, while the 12 winners will wear the bronze service star device on the ribbon. The winners will also wear the Outstanding Airman of the Year Badge for one year from the date of formal presentation.

The winners are:
-- Staff Sgt. Johanna Aviles from Los Angeles Air Force Base, Calif.
-- Senior Master Sgt. Mary Bechdel assigned to Royal Air Force Molesworth, England
-- Master Sgt. Tyrone Bingham of Offutt AFB, Neb.
-- Senior Airman Channel Bolton-Scholl from McChord AFB, Wash.
-- Tech. Sgt. John Carter assigned to RAF Mildenhall, England
-- Tech. Sgt. Manuel Herrera of Scott AFB, Ill.
-- Tech. Sgt. Benjamin Horton from Hill AFB, Utah
-- Tech. Sgt. Jennifer Laufer assigned to Maxwell AFB, Ala.
-- Tech. Sgt. Marisol Lozada of Cannon AFB, N.M.
-- Master Sgt. Christopher Pollock from Kadena Air Base, Japan
-- Senior Airman Alexander Royal of Peterson AFB, Colo.
-- Senior Master Sgt. Jeffery Steagall from Peterson AFB

Air Force Association officials will honor the 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year during its Air and Space Conference and Technology Exposition in September at Washington, D.C. The Airmen will also serve as members of the AFA's enlisted advisory council for the next year.