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Keesler members win 2nd Air Force honors

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Stephan Coleman
  • 81st Training Wing Public Affairs
KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. --  Senior Airman Zachary Bartlett and Capt. James Johnson are the 2nd Air Force 2012 Airman and top company grade officer of the year.

Bartlett, 81st Medical Support Squadron medical logistics technician, and Johnson, 336th Training Squadron director of operations, were recognized as top performers March 1 during the 81st Training Wing annual awards at the Bay Breeze Event Center.

Bartlett, who now competes at the Air Education and Training Command for 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year honors, played key roles in medical supply training, flight records management, quality assurance, financial data validation and inventory management.

"Anything that comes through this hospital, comes through us," said Bartlett. "Equipment, supplies, personnel -- we make this hospital run."
In addition to his job performance, Bartlett has completed a Community College of the Air Force degree, served as an honor guard member and been a physical training leader. He was also recognized as the wing's volunteer of the quarter, worked on the Warrior Fit Gym transformation and served as his squadron's Combined Federal Campaign representative.

"He is the embodiment of Air Force core values and displays a thorough ability to learn rapidly and adapt quickly to our ever-changing Air Force," said Staff Sgt. Aimee Winters, 81st MDSS. "He pays sharp attention to detail and is constantly aiming toward excellence."

Winters is Bartlett's supervisor and was responsible for submitting his awards package to 2nd Air Force. Winters said Bartlett has earned the award through noteworthy exertion put forward since arriving at Keesler in 2011.

"It's not just me. I work alongside everyone else," said Bartlett. "I have great leadership all the way down from the wing commander--they paved the way. When they tell me what to do I just do it the best I can, and if I win an award, that's awesome."

Johnson's award package is a compilation of his accomplishments at Keesler and at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, where he spent the first half of the year.
At Wright-Patterson, Johnson was the chief of the largest branch at the National Air and Space Intelligence Center. He led a 52-member team that maintained 17 networks, 66 classified circuits and $18 million in resources.

He arrived at Keesler with only three months to prepare for the base's Combined Unit Inspection. Several weeks before the CUI was scheduled, Lt. Col. Paul Griffin, 336th TRS commander, became ill and was physically unable to oversee the preparations.

"Captain Johnson and I would talk several times a day over the phone in preparation for the CUI," said Griffin. "However, he had my trust even if we weren't able to talk. Since day one on the job, he showed a great level of dedication to me and the squadron. I had no problem letting him make decisions as a captain, because he worked hard from day one in the unit."

Johnson helped the unit win the wing's 'most ready unit' recognition prior to the CUI. The unit garnered an 'excellent' rating and Johnson was recognized by the inspector general as a superior performer, said Griffin.

"In addition, while I was out, my fellow commanders said that he looked ready to be a squadron commander," said Griffin. "He didn't get rattled by suddenly being put in a higher position. That's what set him above his peers. He works hard in the job he's given so he can be ready when the next rank and opportunity presents itself."

Johnson has a very involved form of leadership that he learned from his superiors.

"The hallmark of a leader is how you make yourself invisible in a unit," said Johnson. "It's preparing your people to take leadership roles and the unit continues to function whether you are there or not. I fortunately have a boss like Lt. Col. Paul Griffin, who has groomed me for success."
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