Three Airmen from Keesler Air Force Base were recognized during the 2018 Outstanding Airmen of the Year ceremony in Orlando, Florida Feb. 26, 2019.
Senior Airman Gary G. Jeffrey III, 81st Medical Support Squadron, won the Airman of the Year category. Winning in Civilian Supervisory Category I was Jason G. Medenwaldt, 81st Logistics Readiness Squadron. In the Non-Supervisory Civilian Category I Brian Louis, 81st Comptroller Squadron, was announced the winner.
Air Education and Training Command honored 11 Airmen and eight civilians as the the command’s 2018 winners of the Outstanding Airmen of the Year.
The OAY awards are presented annually, recognizing the top officer, enlisted and civilian members of the command. Winners will compete at Air Force level. Aspects of consideration for Airmen to be nominated for OAY include superior leadership, job performance, community involvement and personal achievements.
The 2018 AETC Outstanding Airmen of the Year are:
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Airman of the Year Category: Senior Airmen Gary G. Jeffrey III – 81st Medical Support Squadron, Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi
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Noncommissioned Officer of the Year Category: Tech. Sgt. Marcus J. Bernard – 42nd Security Forces Squadron, Maxwell AFB, Alabama
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Senior Noncommissioned Officer of the Year Category: Master Sgt. Thomas E. Kasten – 71st Security Forces Squadron, Vance AFB, Oklahoma
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First Sergeant of the Year Category: Senior Master Sgt. John C. Quinley – 42nd SFS, Maxwell AFB, Alabama
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Honor Guard Member of the Year Category: Tech. Sgt. John A. Parris – 366th Training Squadron, Sheppard AFB, Texas
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Honor Guard Program Manager of the Year Category: Master Sgt. Phillip W. Acord Jr. – 82nd Force Support Squadron, Sheppard AFB, Texas
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Military Training Instructor of the Year Category: Tech. Sgt. Eric J. Garza – 323rd Training Squadron, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas
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Military Training Leader of the Year Category: Master Sgt. Sean K. Brasier – 2nd Air Force, Keesler AFB, Mississippi
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Recruiter of the Year Category: Master Sgt. Gervacio A. Maldonado – 318th Recruiting Squadron, Pennsylvania
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Company Grade Officer Category: Capt. Elmer J. Lustina – 336th Recruiting Squadron, Moody AFB, Georgia
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Field Grade Officer Category: Maj. Steven J. Schuldt – Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
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Civilian Non-Supervisory Category I: Brian Louis – 81st Comptroller Squadron, Keesler AFB, Mississippi
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Civilian Non-Supervisory Category II: Bridgette N. Davis – 502nd Air Base Wing, JBSA-Fort Sam Houston, Texas
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Civilian Non-Supervisory Category III: Sharon P. Lewis – 42nd Medical Support Squadron, Maxwell AFB, Alabama
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Civilian Non-Supervisory Category IV: Derrick V. Frazier, School of Advanced Air and Space Studies, Maxwell AFB, Alabama
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Civilian Supervisory Category I: Jason G. Medenwaldt – 81st Logistics Readiness Squadron, Keesler AFB, Mississippi
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Civilian Supervisory Category II: C. Michael Gann – 502nd Civil Engineer Squadron, JBSA-Fort Sam Houston, Texas
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Civilian Supervisory Category III: Jeffry T. Wilkins – 17th Civil Engineer Squadron, Goodfellow AFB, Texas
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Civilian Supervisory Category IV: Jeffrey M. Reilly – Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Alabama
Senior Master Sgt. Israel Del Toro Jr., 98th Flying Training Squadron Accelerated Freefall Training Program superintendent, spoke to the honorees, commending them for their continual service and dedication to the mission throughout 2018, as well as urging them to use the power of the award to touch people's lives moving forward.
“When you return to your base people will think ‘that OAY winner is squared away,’ so use this recognition to touch people’s lives, be there for one another and make a difference,” Del Toro said. “Congratulations…go out there and keep getting after it!”
Maj. Gen. Mark Weatherington, AETC’s deputy commander, spoke to the importance of teamwork allowing Airmen to make an impact.
“The people being recognized here made a big difference for AETC, but each and every one of them would say there’s a huge team behind them that help them make an impact,” Weatherington said. “Thank you for making a difference in our Air Force and for AETC.”