Annual award winner profile - Senior Noncommissioned Officer of the Year

  • Published
  • 302nd Airlift Wing

Air Force Reserve Master Sgt. Eric Cross was named the 302nd Airlift Wing’s 2015 Outstanding Senior Noncommissioned Officer of the Year at the annual 302nd Airlift Wing Awards dinner March 5, 2016. Awardees are recognized for their leadership and job performance, self-improvement and base and community involvement.

Cross, an instructor loadmaster with the 731st Airlift Squadron, distinguished himself from his peers in part by performing at a very high level during a deployment to Southwest Asia. During his deployment, he was the only Air Force Reserve Command loadmaster to train and assist Afghan partners. He advised Afghan Air Force officers daily, improving their training programs and maximizing a small U.S. footprint. He drove loadmaster formal training that integrated instructors and students with daily lessons and flights increasing mission capabilities.

In addition to his recent deployment, Cross was also selected to complete senior enlisted joint professional military education at Joint Forces Staff College.

When away from his Air Force duties, he volunteers at Mountainside Elementary School in Colorado Springs, Colo., acting as a mentor to students, is a coach for a local wrestling club and assists with the monthly cleanup activities at a local park. 

The 302nd Airlift Wing, one of nine Air Force Reserve C-130 wings with an airdrop and airlift mission located throughout the nation and the only Air Force Reserve C-130 wing assigned the special Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System (MAFFS) mission, is one of the largest tenant organizations at Peterson Air Force Base, Colo. Approximately 1,300 Reserve Airmen are assigned, of which roughly 200 are full-time, dual status federal civil service/Air Force Reserve employees as Air Reserve Technicians.