Trainers claim Air Force C4 Association awards

Published Aug. 4, 2010
By Susan Griggs
81st Training Wing public affairs

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- Two members of the 81st Training Group are recipients of Air Force C4 Association awards for 2009.

Staff Sgt. Jonathan Okeefe, 338th Training Squadron, was recognized in the noncommissioned officer category, and Edward Simpson, 333rd TRS, won in civilian category 2.

Sergeant Okeefe, who's been in the Air Force for 6½ years, was deployed to Afghanistan for nearly a year as the communications officer and only Air Force member of a 60-person provincial reconstruction team. The team conducted more than 100 missions with no fatalities. He configured 125 radios for 39 convoys which provided a command and control lifeline for 150 troops.

Sergeant Okeefe was a first responder after a mortar attack who called in a medevac helicopter that saved the lives of three wounded Afghan children. He secured a forward base during an attack, leading three combat sweeps that protected 60 Soldiers and $3 million worth of equipment from counter attack. He also established an operations center at a remote Afghan camp responsible for construction of two wells and two new roads and participated in a humanitarian project that distributed food to 800 people in an Afghan village.

Previously a satellite, wideband and telemetry systems instructor in the 338th TRS detachment at Fort Gordon, Ga., Sergeant Okeefe moved to Keesler last year to help with establishing the first of 10 cyber training courses and now teaches in the radio frequency transmission systems course. While at Fort Gordon, he volunteered with the USO and the American Heart Association's Heart Walk.

Mr. Simpson served as a ground radio instructor while on active duty in the 338th TRS. After he retired with 21 years of military service two years ago, he became a civilian instructor in the basic communications officer training course in the 333rd TRS.

Mr. Simpson was lauded as an exceptional instructor who conducted more than 1,800 hours of cyberspace-focused training to 114 students with a 92 percent class average. He's a certified instructor in 208 curriculum hours, increasing the qualified staff 25 percent.

He identified outdated communication and information officer curriculum and revamped the air expeditionary force training document with field concepts. He created new test safe procedures and trained seven team members to ensure complete accountability and control of testing and resources.

Mr. Simpson led the effort to add hands-on content to the course by scheduling 50 tours and guest speakers to focus on real world issues explored in training. He reviewed more than 420 Technical Training Management System entries, creating an office checklist to share lessons learned, reducing review time by 10 percent.

He is the director of a community youth basketball organization and led the 81st Force Support Squadron Over-30 basketball team as a free agent to the base intramural championship. He led a church clothing drive and raised funds for African-American Heritage Committee's scholarships.

The C4 Association was formed nearly 20 years ago to preserve and promote the camaraderie and best interests of those who serve in the Air Force's command and control, communications and computer functional community.