Wing's annual award winners, event exude excellence

  • Published
  • By Ann Skarban
  • 302nd Airlift Wing Public Affairs
PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. --  The 302nd Airlift Wing annual award winners for 2014 were announced at the wing's awards dinner on Saturday of the March 2015 Unit Training Assembly.  This year's event proved to be the largest-ever for the Peterson-based reserve wing with nearly 800 of the wing's members and their guests in attendance. 

Special guests, Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force James A. Cody, 22nd Air Force Commander, Maj. Gen. Stayce Harris, 22nd Air Force Command Chief Master Sgt., Michael Thorpe and the Air Force Reserve Command's Command Chief Master Sgt., Cameron Kirksey were also present at this year's event.

The top Airmen in each of the six award categories were individually announced and revealed for the first time at the awards dinner.  The six award categories included:  Airman of the Year, Noncommissioned Officer of the Year, Senior Noncommissioned Officer of the Year, First Sergeant of the Year, Company Grade Officer of the Year and Field Grade Officer of the Year.

The award packages were scored by the award's board amongst their peers' nominations and each Airman was evaluated on his or her leadership, job performance, significant self-improvement and contributions to their on and off-base communities. The annual awards program is managed by the 302nd Airlift Wing Command Chief's office.

Summarizing his impression of this year's awards packages 302nd Airlift Wing Command Chief, Chief Master Sgt. Otis Jones said, "With every passing year our [annual] awards packages have gotten more diverse and more competitive.  We have citizen Airmen who are doing multiple things in their life and still have the ability to perform at their highest level.  They balance family life, civilian employment and still are able to have such a great impact to the community.  It really speaks to the caliber of today's Airmen.  They take the initiative and drive it home."

The 302nd AW's 2014 Annual Award winners are:

302 AW Airman of the Year Senior Airman Erica Kisse, 52nd Airlift Squadron 
Kisse's achievements included her accomplishments as Airman-in-charge of C-130 loadmaster scheduling and her innovation in developing a new task management process.  She earned a Community College of the Air Force degree and volunteered hours of her off-duty time to a local food bank.

302 AW Noncommissioned Officer of the Year Staff Sgt. Dyamie Baker, 302nd Aeromedical Staging Squadron 
Baker's award winning accomplishments included revamping processes and programs in her assigned unit, saving the wing an estimated $35,000 and earning both her CCAF and a Bachelor of Science degree in sports medicine.  Additionally she supported the local community as a coach for two youth sports and volunteered off duty hours with Habitat for Humanity.

302 AW Senior Noncommissioned Officer of the Year Senior Master Sgt. Shawn Alcala, 302nd Logistics Readiness Squadron 
Alcala's leadership skills to include his work as an acting squadron deputy keeping his assigned unit mission ready and his yeoman efforts in the areas of support agreements and deployments, were recognized.  His base and community involvement included volunteering for a youth hockey team and raising funds for a local elementary school and school district.

302 AW First Sergeant of the Year Senior Master Sgt. Sarah Faith, 302nd Aeromedical Staging Squadron 
Faith's accomplishments included coordinating an additional duty first sergeant symposium for both active duty and reserve members along with earning a Masters degree in Business Administration.  Faith was involved in her local church community and volunteered hours improving the quality of life for more than 1,000 elderly citizens. 

302 AW Company Grade Officer of the Year Capt. Frank Laras, 52nd Airlift Squadron - representing 302nd Operations Support Squadron
Laras was recognized for simultaneously filling in for two critical positions within the Operations Support Squadron and his support of the Wounded Warriors airlift missions.  He was recognized for earning his Masters of Public Health and volunteered hours in his local community in support of a youth classical music program.

302 AW Field Grade Officer of the Year Lt. Col. Esther Weightman, 302nd Aeromedical Staging Squadron 
Weightman's accomplishments included acting as the squadron commander while the current commander was deployed and developing a new management program saving the wing an estimated $7,000. She contributed numerous volunteer hours in her community increasing female veteran's outreach for the Veterans Administration and provided support to fallen warriors through support of Patriot Guard missions.

According to Jones, when the awards program got its start at the 302nd AW, luncheons were held during UTAs to recognize the wing's top performers and roughly 100 members participated.

"Through the years, this event has grown due to the efforts of the wing members to make this a festive environment recognizing our Airmen.  We take care of our Airmen. We recognize our Airmen, we work hard and have a really successful mission, said Jones."

Reflecting on this year's awards banquet Jones said, "The attendance speaks to the family the 302nd AW is. It shows we truly care for each other and our success.  It [support] doesn't end on the weekend.  It continues in our everyday lives.  We build those relationships and work together to get things done," commented Jones.

"In my 30 years of being in the Air Force I cannot remember having this level of special guests at any function I was at. Having the CMSAF, 22nd AF Commander and 22nd AF Command Chief and the AFRC Command Chief present, this event showed our Airmen they are part of something very big and very special," added Jones.


Editor's note:  Senior Master Sgt. Sarah Faith who was also selected as 22nd Air Force's First Sergeant of the Year and will compete for First Sergeant of the Year at the Air Force Reserve Command level.