Four Keesler nominees compete for Sijan Awards Published July 22, 2009 By Senior Airman Eric Summers 81st Training Wing Public Affairs KEESLER AIR FORCE, Miss -- Keesler has announced its four nominees for the Air Education and Training Command 2009 Lance P. Sijan Air Force Leadership Award. The Lance P. Sijan Air Force Leadership Award was created in 1981 to recognize the accomplishments of officers and enlisted members who have demonstrated the highest quality of leadership in the performance of their duties and their personal lives. Sijan, an Air Force captain, died while he was a prisoner of war during the Vietnam War. Prior to his capture, the Air Force Academy graduate and posthumous Medal of Honor recipient evaded the Vietnamese for six weeks after being shot-down in November 1967. The four award categories are senior officer, junior officer, senior enlisted and junior enlisted. The junior enlisted nominee is Tech. Sgt. Yolanda Jerry, 81st Logistics Readiness Squadron non-commissioned officer in charge of material control. She leads personnel in the procurement of critical parts for a 398-vehicle fleet worth $23 million in support of the Air Force's largest training group. The sergeant was also a key Combined Federal Campaign project officer, raising $4,100 within her squadron among other accomplishments. The senior enlisted nominee is Master Sgt. Roger Trahan, 81st Medical Support Squadron first sergeant. Sergeant Trahan is responsible for general supervision and focal point for matters concerning more than 200 members. He was Keesler's representative for the First Sergeant Worldwide Confer-ence. He briefed 90 Air Command and Staff College students on commander and first sergeant dynamics, which groomed and educated future squadron commanders. He also led the cooking team during the Conseil International du Sport Militaire women's soccer tournament cultural exchange hosted by Keesler. The junior officer nominee is Capt. Michael Stone, 81st Force Support Squadron chief of readiness and plans. Captain Stone instructed 406 hour of class and served instructor supervisor and flight commander for 308 personnel all at one time to earn him the wing's company grade officer of the year award for 2008. The captain also led the Special Olympics nerve center, directing 43 members for 6,000 attendees. The senior officer nominee is Maj. Ryan Robinson, 336th Training Squadron deputy director of resources and sustainment directorate. Major Robinson volunteered for a 365-day deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom where he was No. 1 of six field grade officers to lead combined joint intelligence and resources and sustainment as deputy director for an Army colonel. He has also pioneered a $1.8 million network suite. He also led 14 personnel in a $100,000 blown transformer swap after a storm, restoring combined joint intelligence from zero power to full mission capable in 15 minutes.