AFTC major awarded two Air Medals

  • Published
  • By Kenji Thuloweit
  • 412th Test Wing Public Affairs
EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  Family members and fellow Air Force Test Center staff watched as Maj. Gen. Arnold Bunch Jr., AFTC commander, pinned on the U.S. Armed Forces Air Medal to Maj. Todd Abshire's flight suit in front of Bldg. 1, Oct. 14.

Abshire received two Air Medals along with the Meritorious Service Medal.

He received his Air Medals for distinctive accomplishments while serving as an air advisor while deployed to Afghanistan.

The Air Medal was established by executive order in 1942. It is awarded to any person who, while serving in any capacity in or with the Armed Forces of the United States, shall have distinguished themselves by meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight. Awards may be made to recognize single acts of merit or heroism, or for meritorious service.

His award citations say he distinguished himself by meritorious achievement while participating in sustained aerial flight as a C-208 instructor pilot advisor from Oct. 5, 2013 to Jan. 5, 2014; and then a second stint from Jan. 9 to May 14 as a C-208 evaluator pilot advisor.  During these periods, his professional skill and devotion to duty directly contributed to national security objectives by flying missions in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.  He routinely flew demanding missions in extremely mountainous terrain and well within the engagement zone of enemy surface-to-air threats transporting personnel, conducting life-saving casualty evacuations and combat missions. Additionally, he advised nine C-208 pilots on tactics, techniques and procedures.

Abshire flew instructional sorties and taught ground training that led to the qualification of Kandahar Air Wing's first-ever C-208 instructor pilot.  His instruction and oversight enabled Kandahar Air Wing's fixed-wing squadron to independently execute all operational missions and provided the squadron with sustainable training and upgrade programs for future Afghan pilots.

"Teaching a country's first instructor pilot; think about that. That's amazing," said Bunch. "Major Abshire served as a great ambassador of the United States. For that, I thank you."

In addition to his two Air Medals, Abshire, who is leaving Edwards for a new assignment, received the Meritorious Service Medal.

He spent two years on center staff, of which the last 365 days were deployed to Afganistan.

Originally a KC-135 pilot, Abshire has been assigned to the AFTC Safety Office as flight safety chief. When the base merged wings in 2012 and the center reconsolidation occurred, he was the only safety-trained person to stand up the new AFTC Safety Office. He helped establish the center flight safety division and rewrote three Air Force instructions, delivering a projected $109 million in annual savings to the command.

Abshire's MSM citation states that his efforts directly resulted in the safe and effective flight test of the Air Force's most diverse aircraft inventory, which includes 90 aircraft of over 15 different types totaling more than $12 billion in resources.  Two of his innovative programs were identified as command-wide best practices by Air Force Materiel Command.