Wing annual awards 'Honoring Heritage, Making History' Published Feb. 24, 2010 By Susan Griggs Keesler News editor KEESLER AFB, Ms. -- Keesler honored its top performers Feb. 18 at the 81st Training Wing's 2009 awards banquet in the Roberts Consolidated Aircraft Maintenance Facility. Maj. Gen. Anthony Przybyslawski, Air Education and Training Command vice commander, was the guest speaker. Theme for this year's event was "Honoring Heritage, Making History." Winners are: Airman -- Senior Airman Brandon Ailes, 81st Medical Operations Squadron. Airman Ailes, a cardiopulmonary technician, was recognized as AETC's cardiopulmonary excellence airman of the year and was promoted to his current rank below the zone. As shift leader for the respiratory therapy department, he was responsible for 500 treatments with no mishaps and was credited with several life-saving interventions with critical patients. He's working toward his master of business administration degree, escorted distinguished visitors to the base's air show, volunteered with Habitat for Humanity and led a team for the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life. Noncommissioned officer -- Tech. Sgt. Noah Vaughan, 335th Training Squadron. Sergeant Vaughan, a weather instructor supervisor, had 839 hours of podium credit for the year, exceeding AETC requirements by 625 percent. He achieved master instructor certification, authored 140 curriculum hours, upgraded eight weather system servers and integrated realism into 3-level training by creating 40 forecast scenarios and 180 special weather notices. He completed his bachelor's degree, headed the nerve center for the wing's air show, chaired a 50-member Habitat for Humanity team that built two houses, recruited 78 new members for the Air Force Sergeants Association and was military member of the year for the Orange Grove/Lyman Chamber of Commerce. Senior NCO -- Master Sgt. Patrick Key, 81st Logistics Readiness Squadron. As squadron superintendent, he led 121 military and 49 civilian members, managed nine shops and oversaw the base's 395-vehicle fleet. During a deployment to Iraq, he commanded two convoys with 57 members and 41 vehicles. He was awarded two Meritorious Service Medals and the Army Achievement Medal during the year. He earned a Community College of the Air Force degree in transportation management while deployed, aced the Air Force Institute of Technology's combat logistics course in residence and completed the Joint Forces Staff College's senior enlisted joint professional military education course. He organized Keesler's American Heart Association's Heart Walk team, led his squadron to the wing's Commander's Trophy for intramural sports and served as his squadron's Combined Federal Campaign representative. Company grade officer -- Capt. Bobby Roper, 338th TRS Detachment 1, Fort Gordon, Ga. Captain Roper led the detachment's 35 satellite communication instructors to a 99 percent student graduation rate. In persuading six instructors to move to Keesler in spite of less than a 120-day reporting and assignment code reset, he was instrumental in the successful startup of the wing's cyber radio frequency course. He revamped his detachment's fitness program, achieving a 98 percent pass rate. He drafted two successful grant applications for a nonprofit organization and helped raise $3,500 for a special needs group. First sergeant -- Master Sgt. Joseph Wheeler, 81st Inpatient Operations and Aerospace Medicine Squadrons. Sergeant Wheeler, president of the First Sergeants Council, led the effort to reactivate the wing's enlisted promotion ceremony, instituted a weekly "Diamond Run" for his units and authored a "Diamond Dose" newsletter. He briefed Air Force Academy cadets on leadership dynamics and spoke to first-term Airmen and students at Airman Leadership School and the NCO Academy. He's pursuing a master's degree in counseling, completed the 2009 Air Force Marathon, directed a "Dormsgiving" meal for permanent-party residents and raised funds for Project Cheer and breast cancer research. Honor guard airman -- Senior Airmen Kayla Spiel, 81st IPTS. Airman Spiel, an aerospace medicine technician, was part of the 81st Medical Group's team that earned AETC's best inpatient facility recognition for 2009. During the 12 months she served with the honor guard, she completed 84 details. Honor guard NCO -- Staff Sgt. Johnathan Murray, 338th TRS. Sergeant Murray is a ground radar systems maintenance instructor. Since he joined the honor guard in September, he's completed 59 details. Civilian category I -- Florence Clay, 334th TRS. Ms. Clay, a budget assistant, executed $2.3 million for six flights and 14 financial programs, including $1.4 million in acquisitions for the squadron's new dorm. She's completed 18 credits toward her doctorate in business and is using newly-acquired skills on the job as she works on her dissertation. She coordinated the base chapel's 38th anniversary of its gospel program, is active in Blacks in Government, served as project manager of the chapel's youth fair and holiday meal program, ministers to the needy and shut-ins and raised funds for cancer research. She is AETC's nominee for the Air Force Blacks in Government Meritorious Service Award. Civilian category II -- Anthony Mitchell, 332nd TRS. Mr. Mitchell, an instructional systems specialist, supported 4,000 graduates in 28 Air Force specialties. He managed two purchase card accounts, designed an extensive program to track purchases and was accountable for 153 equipment items. He converted text to a digital format, cutting print costs by $1l7,000 annually. He completed nine online computer courses and three online management and leadership courses. He chaired the Mississippi Gulf Coast's Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. birthday celebration committee, served on the base's African-American Heritage Committee, collected more than 4,000 canned food items for a community drive and raised funds for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Civilian supervisor category I -- Elizabeth Harper, 81st Operations Support Flight. Ms. Harper, host aviation resource management chief, supported 300 aircrew and jumpers, five units and three major commands. She was one of seven career field pioneers honored during the inaugural Air Force aviation resource management event, with a Keesler classroom named in her honor. She was a key player in Keesler's air show, volunteered with Special Olympics and the Gulf Coast Women's Shelter and served as president of the North Bay Area Mardi Gras Association and secretary for the D'Iberville Community Club. Civilian supervisor category II -- Richard Brock, legal office. As the civil law chief, Mr. Brock authored more than 400 legal opinions and served more than 1,000 legal assistance clients, producing 775 documents with savings of $200,000. He mentored five attorneys and four paralegals on complex civil law issues. He led the top Volunteer Income Tax Program in the state, preparing more than 2,020 federal and 1,590 state returns with client savings of more than $390,000. He's a member of the U.S. Tennis Association, Gulf Coast Rifle and Pistol Club, an elder and adult Sunday School teacher at his church and an adjunct professor for Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.