ACC announces public affairs excellence awards

  • Published
  • By Maj. Kathryn Bienfang
  • Air Combat Command Public Affairs
LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. (ACCNS) --  The director of Headquarters, Air Combat Command Public Affairs announced the command-level winners for the 2009 Air Force Public Affairs Awards for Communication Excellence, Feb. 12.

The program, which recognizes the command and wing PA team's communications capabilities, planning and execution, recognized exceptional performance in unit and individual categories, contributing to the Air Force mission.

Col. Eric W. Schnaible, director of ACC Public Affairs, congratulated winners and nominees throughout the command, noting that in 2009, PA staffs were resource-challenged with reduced manning, training shortfalls and high operations tempo and one-to-one dwell deployment rates.

"I'm proud of the entire PA team's use of innovation, integration and creativity to tell their unit's mission stories to local, regional and global audiences," Colonel Schnaible said. "ACC Airmen are doing incredible things, and I am impressed by those selected by the awards board as annual winners and the quality of award nominations this year."

Throughout 2009, ACC wings and numbered air force public affairs offices supported commander priorities and delivered Air Force key themes and messages to an international audience, reinforcing the ACC commander's priorities in executing military operations, preparing for tomorrow's threats, and exploring future technologies, according to Colonel Schnaible.

In addition to the communication excellence competition, the annual ACC Media Contest is currently ongoing and will recognize the best writing, photography, graphic illustration and broadcasting Airmen. These awards are scored based on writing, photography and broadcast entries in 35 categories for technical quality and value to Air Force internal communications programs. ACC's 2009 first-place winners will compete at the Air Force Public Affairs Agency-level competition.

The 2009 ACC Public Affairs Excellence in Communications Award winners are:

Individual awards - wing level

Outstanding Public Affairs Company Grade Officer:
First place: 1st Lt. Michelle Rollins, 49th Fighter Wing, Holloman AFB, N.M.
Second place: Capt. Stacie N. Shafran, 355th Fighter Wing, Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz.
Third place: Capt. Brooke K. Brander, 432nd Wing, Creech AFB, Nev.

Outstanding Public Affairs Senior Noncommissioned Officer:
Master Sgt. Kevin J. Gruenwald, 99th Air Base Wing, Nellis AFB, Nev.

Outstanding Public Affairs Noncommissioned Officer:
First place: Tech. Sgt. Laura K. Deckman, 2nd Bomb Wing, Barksdale AFB, La. (now an Air Force Global Strike Command wing)
Second place: Tech. Sgt Steven D. Wilson, 28th Bomb Wing, Ellsworth AFB, S.D.
Third place: Staff Sgt. Andrea N. Thacker, 23rd Wing, Moody AFB, Ga.

Outstanding Public Affairs Airman:
First place: Senior Airman Gina M. Chiaverotti-Paige, 23rd Wing, Moody AFB Ga.
Second place: Senior Airman Robert Linch, 509th Bomb Wing, Whiteman AFB, Mo. (Now an AFGSC wing)
Third place: Senior Airman Michael J. Cowley, 20th Fighter Wing, Shaw AFB, S.C.

Outstanding Combat Airman:
First place: Senior Airman Marc Lane, 28th Bomb Wing, Ellsworth AFB, S.D.
Second place: Tech. Sgt. Laura K. Deckman, 2nd Bomb Wing, Barksdale AFB, La. (Now an AFGSC wing)
Third place: Tech. Sgt. Edward P. Gyokeres, 23rd Wing, Moody AFB, Ga.

Outstanding Intermediate Grade Civilian (GS 9-13):
First place: Charles W. Ramey, 99th Air Base Wing, Nellis AFB, Nev.
Second place: B. Arlan Ponder, 49th Fighter Wing, Holloman AFB, N.M.
Third place: Vic Johnston, 1st Fighter Wing, Langley AFB, Va.

Outstanding Public Affairs Civilian (GS 1-7):
Jennifer D. Greene, 509th Bomb Wing, Whiteman AFB, Mo. (Now an AFGSC wing)

Individual awards - numbered air force and above

Outstanding Public Affairs Field Grade Officer:
First place: Maj. Pete Hughes, ACC/PAO, Langley AFB, Va.
Second place: Maj. John Elolf, ACC/PAO, Langley AFB, Va.
Third place: Maj. Michelle Coghill, ACC/PAO, Langley AFB, Va.

"Lieutenant Sarah K. Small" Outstanding Public Affairs CGO:
First place: Capt. Jason L. McCree, U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, Nellis AFB, Nev.
Second place: Capt. Nathan Broshear, 12th Air Force, Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz.
Third place: Capt. Jennifer Ferrau, ACC/PAO, Langley AFB, Va.

Outstanding Public Affairs Senior Noncommissioned Officer:
First place: Senior Master Sgt. Andrew Lynch, ACC/PAR, Langley AFB,Va.
Second place: Master Sgt. Pamela S. Anderson, U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, Nellis AFB, Nev.

Outstanding Public Affairs Noncommissioned Officer:
First place: Staff Sgt. Amanda B. Savannah, U.S. Air Forces Central Command Public Affairs, Shaw AFB, S.C.
Second place: Tech. Sgt. James R. Martin, U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, Nellis AFB, Nev.
Third place: Staff Sgt. Thomas J. Doscher, ACC/PAO, Langley AFB, Va. (now at U.S. Northern Command, Peterson Air Force Base, Colo.)

Outstanding Band Company Grade Officer:
1st Lt. Michael D. Hoerber, U.S. Air Force Heartland of America Band, Offutt AFB, Neb.

Outstanding Band Senior Noncommissioned Officer:
Master Sgt. Steven C. Fitts, U.S. Air Force Heartland of America Band, Offutt AFB, Neb.

Outstanding Band Noncommissioned Officer:
Staff Sgt. Matthew C. Erickson, U.S. Air Force Heartland of America Band, Offutt AFB, Neb.

Outstanding Band Airman:
Senior Airman Michael J. Srstka, U.S. Air Force Heartland of America Band, Offutt AFB, Neb.

Outstanding Intermediate Grade Civilian:
First place: Douglas A. Roe, U.S. Air Force Heartland of America Band, Offutt AFB, Neb.
Second place: Elaine Belcher, ACC/PAO, Langley AFB, Va.

Outstanding Public Affairs Reservist/IMA:
Capt. Jennifer Pearson, ACC/PAO, Langley AFB, Va.

The following ACC PA awards recognize those units that have conducted the most effective Air Force communication programs through demonstrating exemplary professional skill, creativity and resourcefulness.

Air Force Public Affairs Director's Excellence Awards

Best Excellence in Communication:
First place: Transit Center at Manas, Kyrgyzstan
Second place: 9th Reconnaissance Wing, Beale AFB, Calif.
Third place: 432nd Wing, Creech AFB, Nev.

Maj. Henry H. "Hap" Arnold Award for Public Affairs Communications
Effectiveness:
First place: 432nd Wing, Creech AFB, Nev.
Second place: 12th Air Force, Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz.
Third place: 20th Fighter Wing, Shaw AFB, S.C.

Best Issues Management:
First place: 49th Fighter Wing, Holloman AFB, N.M.
Second place: 432nd Wing, Creech AFB, Nev.
Third place: 376th Air Expeditionary Wing, Transit Center at Manas, Kyrgyzstan

Best Integrated Communication:
First place: Air Force Central Command, Shaw AFB, S.C.
Second place: 23rd Wing, Moody AFB, Ga.

Best Innovative Communication:
First place: U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, Nellis AFB, Nev.
Second place: 12th Air Force, Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz.
Third place: 28th Bomb Wing, Ellsworth AFB, S.D.

Best Crisis Communication:
First place: 12th Air Force, Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz.
Second place: 9th Reconnaissance Wing, Beale AFB, Calif.
Third place: 49th Fighter Wing, Holloman AFB, N.M.

Winners of the individual awards for public affairs excellence in communication are eligible for the military Air Force Recognition Ribbon or the civilian Air Force Recognition Lapel pin. First-place winners in the numbered air force levels and above will move forward to compete at the Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs level.