RAF Mildenhall recognizes the "Best of the Best" maintenance professionals of the year Published March 28, 2012 By Senior Master Sgt. Eric Dudash 100th Maintenance Squadron RAF MILDENHALL, England -- The 2011 Knuckle Buster (Maintenance Professional of the Year) ceremony took place here, March 23, recognizing the "Best of the Best" within the 100th Maintenance Group. More than 400 personnel honored Airmen who are committed to the mission day and night, savored the challenges of unique tasks, and possessed the highest measures of integrity and excellence. Awards were given to 33 Airmen of the 100th MXG who made exceptional contributions to mission readiness throughout the year in their respective categories. "This recognition ceremony is an annual celebration for maintainers," said Col. Joseph Rushlau, 100th MXG commander. "It gives us the opportunity to recognize our Airmen whose duty performance goes well above and beyond normal duty standards, technical excellence and professionalism." Congratulations to the following 2011 Maintenance Professional of the Year award winners: Civilian(Category 1) of the Year Mia Tobitt Civilian(Category 2) of the Year John James Airman of the Year Senior Airman Cho Ndiforchu Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year Tech. Sgt. Black Cushing Senior Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year Senior Master Sgt. Eric Dudash Company Grade Officer of the Year 1st Lt. Chris Walsh First Sergeant of the Year Senior Master Sgt. Gordon Evarts Volunteer of the Year Airman 1st Class Orson Lyttle Maintenance Training Flight of the Year 100th MOS Training Flight Maintenance Training Manager of the Year Tech. Sgt. Zankeista Melton Maintenance Training Flight Instructor of the Year Staff Sgt. Danyal Metz Maintenance Management Systems Profession of the Year - Analysis Staff Sgt. Kareem Edwards Maintenance Management Systems Professional of the Year - Scheduling Airman 1st Class Kevin Lee General Lew Allen Jr. Trophy - Company Grade Officer 1st Lt. Chris Walsh General Lew Allen Jr. Trophy - Senior Non-Commissioned Officer Master Sgt. Ronald Gantt Lt. General Leo Marquez - Airman Senior Airman Jeremy Jolliff Lt. General Leo Marquez - Non-Commissioned Officer Tech. Sgt. Gregory Fox Lt. General Leo Marquez - Senior Non-Commissioned Officer Master Sgt. Robert Snellenberger Lt. General Leo Marquez - Company Grade Officer 2nd Lt. Jeremy Christenson Lance P. Sijan Leadership Award - Junior Enlisted Tech. Sgt. Jalil Samavarchian Lance P. Sijan Leadership Award - Junior Officer 1st Lt. Timothy Gaydosh CMSAF Thomas N. Barnes Award Staff Sgt. Sherwin Allen Maintenance Support Professional of the Year - Airman Senior Airman Cho Ndiforchu Maintenance Support Professional of the Year - Non-Commissioned Officer Staff Sgt. Jimmy Defore Maintenance Support Professional of the Year - Senior Non-Commissioned Officer Senior Master Sgt. Dennis Soave Maintenance Professional of the Year - Airman Senior Airman Jonathan Mosqueda Maintenance Professional of the Year - Non-Commissioned Officer Staff Sgt. Brandon Stinson Maintenance Professional of the Year - Senior Non-Commissioned Officer Senior Master Sgt. Randy Walton Maintenance Professional of the Year - Company Grade Officer Capt. Justin Taylor 100th Maintenance Squadron Knuckle Buster of the Year Tech. Sgt. Timothy Farmakis 100th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron Knuckle Buster of the Year Staff Sgt. Larry Aubry 100th Maintenance Operations Squadron Knuckle Buster of the Year Tech. Sgt. William Wilson Unit Spirit Award 100th Maintenance Squadron