AFRC announces Oustanding Airmen of the Year and First Sergeant winners

Published April 24, 2006
By Staff Sgt. Jennifer Gregoire
Air Force Reserve Command Public Affairs

ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. -- Air Force Reserve Command announced its Outstanding Airmen of the Year and First Sergeant of the Year during ceremonies at the Museum of Aviation here April 20.

The winners are are Senior Airman Eric Pena, airman category, 349th Air Mobility Wing, Travis AFB, Calif.; Staff Sgt. Conrad Dawes Jr., NCO category, 310th Space Group, Buckley AFB, Colo.; Master Sgt. Renee Williams, Headquarters AFRC, Robins AFB, senior NCO category; and Senior Master Sgt. Kathleen Buckner, first sergeant, 452nd AMW, March Air Reserve Base, Calif. They will compete against other major command nominees for Air Force-level honors.

Airman Pena is a combat arms instructor assigned to the 349th Security Forces Squadron. He is a traditional reservist who has been serving on active-duty orders the last two years. The California native helps train about 7,000 people annually on weapons such as the M-16 with the Travis AFB active-duty security forces squadron. The 349th AMW is a Reserve associate unit, which operates and maintains the same equipment with its active-duty counter-part at Travis. Airman Pena deployed to Camp Victory, Baghdad, Iraq, for six months last year.

After being named AFRC’s airman of the year, Airman Pena said “I feel overwhelmed. I’m speechless; all I can say is ‘wow.’ All the people here from 4th Air Force, who I’ve never met before tonight, went out of their way to make my wife, Marie, feel so welcome. Now to represent the command, everyone here tonight, it’s such an honor. You can’t beat that.”

Sergeant Dawes is a mission crew chief evaluator assigned to the 8th Space Warning Squadron, the Reserve associate unit to Buckley’s active-duty space warning squadron there. Sergeant Dawes serves full-time in an Active Guard Reserve position ensuring more than 140 active-duty members comply with proper monitoring and reporting procedures as they monitor the earth from space to detect infrared data such as missiles. He also helps train traditional reservists assigned to the 8th SWS.

“The moment seams surreal. I’m honored because it’s even more than just representing AFRC to me, it’s being able to represent every hard working NCO,” said Sergeant Dawes.

Master Sergeant Renee Williams is assigned to Headquarters Air Reserve Command’s Logistics Directorate. As a command equipment manager, she ensures the Reserve has the proper support equipment necessary for the C-5, C-141 and C-17 aircraft. Sergeant Williams works closely with units to make sure the right balance of equipment is available ensuring units can train and support peace time and war time missions. As the small arms program manager, she also saved the command $150,000 by allocating weapons from closing units to fill shortages around the command.

“I’m overwhelmed and still in shock,” she said after the banquet. “I have so much respect for our total force and what they bring to the fight. I am absolutely honored to represent AFRC’s senior noncommissioned officers at the Air Force level competition. This command is full of exceptional people who have contributed so much over the last year. I’m humbled.”

Sergeant Buckner is first sergeant of the 452nd Maintenance Operations Squadron and a traditional reservist. Although her minimum monthly commitment to the unit is one weekend a month, she is at her unit four days a week to ensure her people know she is available 24-7. In her civilian job, she is a Department of Defense civilian who works at the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Corona, Calif., as the deputy senior intelligence officer.

After the ceremony Sergeant Buckner said “This honor is so unexpected. I love being a first sergeant. I can’t wait to bring this award back to my unit because it’s my troops who make me the first sergeant I am. This is for them.”

Nominees from all AFRC agencies, 4th, 10th and 22nd Air Forces, Air Reserve Personnel Center, Readiness Management Group and AFRC Headquarters – represented traditional reservists, individual mobilization augmentees, Active Guard Reserve and active-duty members, as noted by guest speaker, Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Gerald Murray. This was the only awards banquet CMSAF Murray has spoken at during his four-year tenure as the Air Force’s top enlisted member.

AFRC Command Chief Master Sgt. Jackson Winsett said the command was honored by his presence. “I know Chief Murray and I know he is a friend to the men and women of the Air Force Reserve. He understands the unique challenges our Citizen Airmen face and their continued dedication to serving their country.” (AFRC News Service)