People behind technology honored at AFRL Annual Awards

  • Published
  • By Derek Hardin
  • Air Force Research Laboratory
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, OHIO --  The "human capital" behind today's and tomorrow's Air Force technology were honored during the 2015 Air Force Research Laboratory Annual Awards ceremony held April 1.

Maj. Gen. Tom Masiello, AFRL commander, gave opening and closing remarks that heralded the exceptional efforts and accomplishments of AFRL's Airmen and teams. Maj. Jason Paul, Deputy Division Chief of the Aerospace Components and Subsystems Technology Division of AFRL's Sensors Directorate, served as emcee of the event.

"I just get blown away with the fantastic work that we do each and every day," stated Masiello.  "And this is our opportunity to celebrate that.  We are in the profession of arms. There's no doubt about it.  We are Airmen, both civilian and military, that are a part of that profession of arms.  And the work that we do protects and save lives of our brothers and sisters in the combat forces."

The AFRL Annual Awards recognize excellence in numerous varied capacities, including Airman of the Year, Mission Support, Diversity, and the Commander's Cup.

The general also called on all of AFRL to continue to focus on the organization's greater purpose.

"I know in your hearts, it really is about the mission...Let's focus on the mission and the great work we do," emphasized Masiello.

The awards ceremony, held at Wright-Patterson AFB, included teleconference participants from 10 AFRL locations from Maui, Hawaii to London.

"It's just unbelievably powerful to have the majority of the workforce all together, albeit virtual. It makes quite a statement," commented Masiello, who then reflected, "The sun never sets on AFRL."

Masiello called the collective achievements of AFRL people in the last year "epic." He hailed AFRL's Automatic Ground Collision Avoidance System (Auto GCAS) as an exemplar of the array of air, space and cyber technologies AFRL people develop to protect warfighters and defend America.  Just a few months after being fielded on Air Force F-16s, Auto GCAS, which prevents controlled flight into terrain, was credited with its first save of an aircraft and pilot.  The system is estimated to save billions in lost aircraft and aircrew members. AFRL is now leading the effort on a similar system that prevents air-to-air collisions.

The 2015 AFRL Annual Awards winners:

· Airman of the Year - Senior Airman Robert D. Russell, 711th Human Performance Wing/USAF School of Aerospace Medicine
· Noncommissioned Officer of the Year - Tech. Sgt. April N. Robinson, 711th Human Performance Wing, Japan
· Senior Noncommissioned Officer of the Year - Master Sgt. Buck D. Clark, AFRL HQ Safety Office
· First Sergeant of the Year - Senior Master Sgt. Nicholas T. Taylor, 711th Human Performance Wing
· Additional Duty First Sergeant of the Year - Master Sgt. Carlos Najera, Aerospace Systems Directorate
· Company Grade Officer of the Year - Capt. Timothy J. Voigt, Sensors Directorate
· Individual Mobilization Augmentee Company Grade Officer of the Year - Capt. Joseph A. Beck, Materials and Manufacturing Directorate
· Field Grade Officer of the Year - Maj. Hope M. Klukovich, Aerospace Systems Directorate
· Individual Mobilization Augmentee Field Grade Officer of the Year - Maj. Elizabeth A. McKenna, 711th Human Performance Wing/USAF School of Aerospace Medicine
· Administrative Excellence (Individual) - Staff Sgt. Charita A. Murray, 711th Human Performance Wing/USAF School of Aerospace Medicine
· Senior Administrative Excellence (Individual) - Ms. Brenda J. Robinson, Directed Energy Directorate
· Supervisory (Individual) - Ms. Beth Anne Woods, Munitions Directorate
· Leadership (Individual) - Maj. Michael A. Hyland, Munitions Directorate
· Senior Leadership (Individual) - Lt. Col. Melinda Eaton, 711th Human Performance Wing/USAF School of Aerospace Medicine
· Mission Support (Individual) - Ms. Rebecca Singleton, Aerospace Systems Directorate
· Mission Support (Team) - Hydrocarbon Boost Facility Activation Demonstration Team, Aerospace Systems Directorate
· International Award (Individual) - Mr. Douglas J. Dolvin, Aerospace Systems Directorate
· International Award (Team) - Advanced Missile Warning Technologies Team, Space Vehicles Directorate
· Scientific and Technical (S&T) Management (Individual) - Dr. John D. Matyjas, Information Directorate
· S&T Achievement (Individual) - Dr. Joshua R. Hendrickson, Sensors Directorate
· S&T Achievement (Team) - High Energy Diffraction Team, Materials and Manufacturing Directorate
· Innovation Award (Individual) - Mr. Derek T. Doyle, Space Vehicles Directorate
· Diversity (Organizational) - Materials and Manufacturing Directorate
· Commander's Cup (Team) - Silver Fang Team, Sensors Directorate & Aerial Collision Avoidance System Team, Aerospace Systems Directorate
· Commander's Cup (Junior Individual) - Dr. Jaime A. Stearns, Space Vehicles Directorate
· Commander's Cup (Senior Individual) - Mr. Glenn Liston, Aerospace Systems Directorate
· Commander's Cup (Richard Neal Special Recognition - Junior) - Mr. Doug Jameson, Sensors Directorate
· Commander's Cup (Richard Neal Special Recognition -  Senior) - Mr. Daniel J. Staggenborg, Sensors Directorate
· Commander's Cup (Richard Neal Special Recognition - Team) - Sonic Counter Detection Team, 711th Human Performance Wing/Human Effectiveness Directorate