Airfield operators bring home two AFMC awards

  • Published
  • By Kenji Thuloweit
  • 95th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  Two Airmen from Edwards Air Force base are being recognized by Headquarters, Air Force Materiel Command for their outstanding achievements, both locally and abroad.

The Colonel Derrel L. Dempsey Airfield Operations Officer of the Year was awarded to Capt. Valentin Maldonado III, Airfield Operations Flight commander, 412th Operations Support Squadron. He is responsible for safe and efficient airfield operations on three airfields and 18 lakebed runways here in the high desert. Captain Maldonado supported the Air Boss at Flight Test Nation Air Show 09 and was Air Boss for President Barack Obama's visit last year.

But the aspect of the award Captain Maldonaldo is most proud of was his deployment to Iraq.

"Seeing what we do daily and everything coming to fruition over there kind of brings it home," he said. "That was huge."

Captain Maldonaldo led 52 Airmen down range and was MVP of the coalition's busiest airfield in Iraq. His flight supported 17 aircraft and he was commended for commanding the flight line following a mortar attack, thus securing the commanding general of Multi National Forces-Iraq.

Captain Maldonaldo is not unfamiliar with being recognized for his performance. This is his third major command award and second consecutive officer of the year award from AFMC.

"It's a back to back winner for Edwards and for the command," he said.

On the enlisted side, Staff Sgt. Carlos P. Logan is the Airfield Management Airman of the Year. Sergeant Logan is an Airfield Management Shift Supervisor, 412th Operations Support Squadron. He volunteered to go to Iraq two weeks before deployment. He supported the Defense Department's busiest Iraqi airfield, inspecting runways that saw more than 220,000 combat and cargo aircraft take off.

He led 20 sweeps of the runways following mortar and rocket attacks to ensure 4,300 acres of airfield were unexploded ordinance free and oversaw repairs to over 300 runway lights. Like Captain Maldonaldo, Sergeant Logan didn't hesitate when asked what he is most proud of with his award.

"The work I did supporting the war effort," he said. "It's an honor and a privilege and reflects what my co-workers and I do every day. It's a team effort."

Here at Edwards AFB, Sergeant Logan flawlessly coordinated rescue operations for last year's T-38 crash and was the point man in keeping base leadership up to speed. He is also a vital member of the Space Shuttle recovery team who coordinated more than 15 shuttle mission arrivals and departures.

Both Airmen were noted for their job performance here at home and taking the fight to the enemy in Iraq which makes it a uniquely special occasion to have AFMC's Airfield Officer of the Year and Airfield Management Airman of the Year to be from the same squadron. Lt. Col. Jeffrey Wharton, 412th Operations Support Squadron commander, could not be prouder.

"Captain Maldonaldo is an outstanding company grade officer. This is his third MAJCOM Dempsey award and that's quite an achievement. Staff Sergeant Logan is just as impressive. They are fantastic representatives of the squadron and these awards indicate the kind of quality Airmen we have here in the OSS and at Edwards," Colonel Wharton said.

The awards will be formerly presented to the two recipients in May at an airfield operations conference in Las Vegas. Afterwards, both Captain Maldonaldo and Sergeant Logan will compete for another award at the Air Force level.

AFMC is headquartered at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, and is one of the Air Force's major commands with a workforce of about 78,000 military and civilian personnel. It is the Air Force's largest command in terms of funding and second in terms of personnel.