88th Air Base Wing announces 2024 annual award winners Published Feb. 24, 2025 By Ashley Richards 88th Air Base Wing Public Affairs WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio -- The 88th Air Base Wing celebrated its top performers during the annual excellence awards ceremony on Feb. 21 at the Wright-Patt Club, where Airmen, Guardians and civilians were recognized for their achievements in 2024. The 88th Air Base Wing hosts the 2024 Annual Excellence Awards Ceremony Friday Feb. 21, 2025 at the Wright-Patt Club at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. (U.S. Air Force graphic logo by David Clingerman) Photo Details / Download Hi-Res The Hollywood-inspired ceremony featured each group within the wing representing different movie genre, along with red carpet interviews and popular movie snacks. Winners received an “Orville” award, paying tribute to aviation pioneer Orville Wright and Wright-Patterson Air Force Base’s heritage. Col. Dustin Richards, 88 ABW and installation commander, and Chief Master Sgt. Tessa Fontaine, 88 ABW command chief, presented the awards recognized the accomplishments of the nominees and winners. “To our nominees who continue to work hard and show excellence in all they do, we are here to celebrate and appreciate every single one of you,” Fontaine said. “You all deserve this recognition.” The annual award nominees are listed below. This year’s winners are in bold (with an asterisk): U.S. Air Force Col. Dustin Richards (left), 88th Air Base Wing and installation commander, and Chief Master Sgt. Tessa Fontaine (right), 88 ABW command chief, congratulate annual award recipients during a ceremony at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, Feb. 21, 2025. Award winners from across Wright-Patt AFB were presented with a trophy in honor of their outstanding achievements. (U.S. Air Force photo by Daniel Peterson) Photo Details / Download Hi-Res Airman of the Year *Airman 1st Class Lance Gimmel – 88th Medical Group Senior Airman Karissa Hull – 88th Mission Support Group Senior Airman Julian Miller – 88th Civil Engineer Group Senior Airman Ricardo Diaz Benitez – Wing Staff Agencies NCO of the Year *Tech. Sgt. Russell Hires – 88th Medical Group Tech. Sgt. Ashley Vozel – 88th Mission Support Group Tech. Sgt. John Clark – 88th Civil Engineer Group Staff Sgt. Madison Lemaire – Wing Staff Agencies Senior NCO of the Year *Master Sgt. Michele Lazurka – 88th Medical Group Master Sgt. Tamara Bruinink – 88th Mission Support Group Master Sgt. Casey Brockway – Wing Staff Agencies First Sergeant of the Year Senior Master Sgt. Christopher Cline – 88th Medical Group Senior Master Sgt. Heather Grant – 88th Mission Support Group *Master Sgt. Patrick Brown – Wing Staff Agencies Honor Guardsman of the Year Spc. 3 Dakota Desrosiers – 88th Medical Group Spc. 3 Margaret Joy – 88th Mission Support Group *Senior Airman Alexis Pearce – 88th Medical Group Spc. 3 Pachee Xiong – 88th Mission Support Group Company Grade Officer of the Year Capt. Janelle Wilmot – 88th Medical Group *1st Lt. Mackenzie Collins – 88th Mission Support Group Capt. James Franco – Wing Staff Agencies Field Grade Officer of the Year *Maj. Travis Callahan – 88th Medical Group Maj. Elliott Beski – Wing Staff Agencies Category I Civilian of the Year Brenda Couch – 88th Medical Group *Marcus Deloye – 88th Mission Support Group Craig O'Meara – 88th Civil Engineer Group Rachel Dart – Wing Staff Agencies Category II Civilian of the Year Kylie Noe-Fields – 88th Medical Group *Kent Schifferly – 88th Mission Support Group Matthew Newsome – 88th Civil Engineer Group Adam Szeltner – Wing Staff Agencies Category III Civilian of the Year Teresa Soulati – 88th Medical Group Julie Sutton – 88th Mission Support Group *Lejla Zejnilovic – 88th Civil Engineer Group Small Team of the Year Medical Readiness – 88th Medical Group Standardization & Evaluations (SFMQ) – 88th Mission Support Group AFLCMC Off Base Lease Execution Team – 88th Civil Engineer Group *Public Affairs Digital Engagement Team – Wing Staff Agencies Large Team of the Year Warrior Operational Medicine Clinic – 88th Medical Group Military Personnel Flight – 88th Mission Support Group *Wright-Patterson Club CORONA Top – 88th Civil Engineer Group Civil Law Section – Wing Staff Agencies Squadron of the Year Healthcare Operations Squadron – 88th Medical Group *Security Forces Squadron – 88th Mission Support Group Operations Support Squadron – Wing Staff Agencies The 88th Air Base Wing hosts the 2024 Annual Excellence Awards Ceremony Friday Feb. 21, 2025 at the Wright-Patt Club at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. (U.S. Air Force graphic logo by David Clingerman) Photo Details / Download Hi-Res