AL UDEID AIR BASE, Qatar -- Master Sgt. Samantha Scott, Combined Forces Air Component Commander Watch Superintendent, was named Higher Headquarters (U.S. Air Forces Central Command) Command Post Senior Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year for 2018 through the Air Force Command Post Annual Awards Program.
Scott leads the AFCENT Control Center in the Combined Air Operations Center at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar. Her 5-member team is the command post central hub for five wings and two groups that operate around the AFCENT area of responsibility.
“This award wouldn’t have been possible without the amazing professionals that make up my team throughout the AOR,” Scott said. “There is a lot that needs to be accomplished to keep information flowing and I couldn’t do it alone.”
Scott also developed a program with the Foreign Disclosure Office to share strategic-level information with 29 coalition partner nations. This program ensures these nations receive timely information during specific events to make everyone involved a more effective force.
“We [U.S. and Coalition forces] are stronger together,” said Col Clayton Bartels, CAOC Deputy Director. “Master Sgt. Scott’s expertise and development of this new program will increase the capabilities of our coalition partners and improve interoperability.”
During this period, Scott and her team also ensured the safety of aircrew personnel in congested skies by deconflicting the airspace with Russia in Syria and also executed a 16-hour mission to move operations from the CAOC to an alternate location.
With her impressive achievements in tow, Scott continues on to compete at the Air Force level in July.