Wing's annual award winners announced

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  • 100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs Office
RAF MILDENHALL, England --  RAF Mildenhall recently announced the winners of the 100th Air Refueling Wing Annual Awards. Congratulations to the following people, who earned their place as the base's top performers for 2007:

Airman:
Senior Airman Alicia A. Goetschel, 100th Security Forces Squadron 

While deployed, the 100th SFS senior airman executed vital "ConAir" missions when she helped move 220 high-risk detainees from Basra to Baghdad, Iraq. She helped train and certify 12 Iraqi correctional officers and proved herself key to integration with the U.S. guard force, ensuring zero successful escapes.

The Warrensburg, Mo., native also controlled three aggravated assault incidents - which prevented an escalation of the situation - and rescued detainees from life-threatening danger. Her eagle-eyed vigilance was proven when she discovered an escape tunnel, and she was praised by leadership after reporting her findings, preventing an escape.

At RAF Mildenhall during 2007, she prepared 125 visitors passes and 100 vehicle passes daily with 100-percent accuracy. That was in addition to handling 200 tax-free car customs declarations and ensuring 100-percent accuracy for all Team Mildenhall tax waivers.

The senior airman was awarded the Elizabeth N. Jackson Award, which is given only to first-term enlisted security forces Airmen. It formally recognizes the war fighting contributions and outstanding accomplishments of young Airmen and their accomplishments while in an expeditionary environment.

Airman Goetschel has been in the military for almost three years.

Noncommissioned Officer:
Tech. Sgt. Joshua S. Trundle, 100th Civil Engineer Squadron 

Recently selected as the first Air Force NCO to attend the United Kingdom NCO Academy, the Mineola, Texas, native filled the assistant fire chief position and was responsible for managing operations for 40 military and Ministry of Defence firefighters.

While deployed to Iraq, he managed the joint operations of 18 coalition firefighters - and directed vehicle recovery operations of a vehicle hit by an improvised explosive device, securing a .50 caliber weapon, extinguishing a fire and ensuring there was zero loss of life.

Integrating with the Suffolk Fire Service during an off-base house fire, Sergeant Trundle ensured safety at all times and saved $40,000-worth of property. He prevented an environmental disaster when, under his command and control, clean-up actions were carried out and safety was maintained during three fuel spills.

As a joint trainer, the 100th ARW NCO of the Year taught 15 Army fire marshals on fire prevention in a combat zone.

Sergeant Trundle has been in the Air Force for 11 years.

Senior Noncomissioned Officer:
Senior Master Sgt. Gerald L. Hires, 100th Mission Support Squadron 

As superintendent of the 100th MSS Military Personnel Flight, Senior Master Sgt. Gerald Hires' section was recognized as the No. 1 large MPF in USAFE for the first time in 13 years.

While deployed to Balad, he led a six-person Personnel Support for Contingency Operations office for 129 days, ensuring 100-percent accountability of 1,700 Airmen at 46 locations in four countries.

He abolished a four-month deployment pay issue backlog, working 376 cases through Active Duty, Air National Guard, and Reserve finance offices. Sergeant Hires created a virtual master task listing for 31 personnelists, cutting the average five-level upgrade time by four months. By combining separations and assignments, he eliminated a single-point-of-failure, which in turn increased technician availability by 83 percent.

His other achievements include negotiating more than 400 Reserve and Air National Guard man-days and 365 overhire days, overcoming 60-percent manning.

Sergeant Hires hails from San Antonio, Texas.

Company Grade Officer:
Capt. Ryan Crowley, 100th CES 

The Blacksburg, Va., native proved himself an outstanding leader when he won the 100th ARW's Company Grade Officer Lance P. Sijan Leadership Award.

He managed to make $900,000 cover a quarterly requirement of $3 million, enabling nine emergency projects to be carried out.

As a testament to his engineering skills, Capt. Crowley developed an energy conservation insulation project for bed-down facilities, saving $48,000 per year.

As 100th CES Readiness and Emergency Management Flight commander, he trained 155 troops monthly.

During 2007, he directed the preparation, and provided flawless support for theater support packages for more than 300 Airmen and 18 F-117 aircraft.

Captain Crowley was also the officer in charge of a 35-person Air Force formation during the Bury St. Edmunds Remembrance Day Parade, which honored British and American veterans.

The flight commander has been in the Air Force for six years.

Civilian Employee:
Ian Nicholls, 100th CES 

As a Ministry of Defence firefighter, Ian Nicholls has achieved many accomplishments in 2007 which earned him this award. After a motor vehicle accident, he freed a man who had become trapped, provided him medical care and prevented further injury, saving the man's life.

At another incident, he helped extinguish a fire that had fully engulfed a house. He treated four victims for smoke inhalation, helped avoid further disaster and ensured there were no fatalities.

Firefighter Nicholls established a landing zone for an air ambulance after a fatal vehicle accident. He then treated and prepared a critical patient for rapid medical care.

The British firefighter also ensured danger to a KC-135 was avoided when there was smoke in the flight deck. He performed ventilation and evacuated the crew, limiting downtime.

When off duty, he evacuated bystanders and helped the local fire department put out a car fire, saving the family who it.

Firefighter Nicholls also helped with the Yorkshire flood relief effort. He deployed and pumped water, helping save 30 buildings worth $10 million.

Civilian Supervisor:
Dean Burson, 100th Communications Squadron 

During 2007, Dean Burson, from Bogata, Texas, managed a $1.25 million phone switch upgrade, reducing the equipment footprint by 50 percent. He also performed a $140,000 tamper-proof phone line installation, which provided a secure communications link for the 488th Intelligence Squadron and resulted in annual savings of $5,000.

As an AFSO21 initiative, Mr. Burson revamped the telephone phone program, retraining 10 phone officers, which resulted in a $16,000 annual saving.

The telephone switch manager revamped his section's on-the-job training program, outlining procedures which ensured a 100 percent career development course pass rate for four technicians. He removed three commercial phone hubs, after engineering a phone switch removal, and saved the Air Force $50,000 per year in contract maintenance fees.

Additionally, he replaced an unreliable airfield primary crash system, improving emergency response and keeping the runway safe.

First Sergeant:
Senior Master Sgt. Richard Coyle, 100th MSS 

While deployed, the first sergeant led 12 people to safety during enemy indirect fire and established bunker command and control.

So his troops could keep in touch with family and friends while deployed, he arranged a phone card issue program for every Airman on Ali Air Base. He also revamped the newcomers' briefing at Ali AB, which impacted more than 700 Airmen and increased situational awareness.

The Longmont, Colo., native was the leader for issues about the Airmen's dormitories at RAF Mildenhall. This resulted in a 50 percent reduction in weekend incidents and a 70 percent increase in clean rooms.

He was hand-selected by the 100th ARW command chief as the Airmen Against Drunk Drivers advisor and coordinator. His input resulted in a 500-percent increase in volunteers and 192 saves.

Senior Master Sgt. Coyle helped three deployed members deal with loss of family, and he worked to get two Air Force members home within one day.

Additionally, Sergeant Coyle led the biggest school supply and toy drive for Iraqi children, which received a huge Air Force-wide response. 

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