332nd EOG executive officer named AETC Weather CGOY

Published March 15, 2012
By Senior Airman Melanie Holochwost
332nd Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

SOUTHWEST ASIA -- An executive officer assigned to the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing was recently named the Air, Education and Training Command 2011 Weather Company Grade Officer of the year.

"When I found out I won this award, I was very surprised," said Capt. James Roberts, 332nd Expeditionary Operations Group executive officer. "I'm absolutely honored that my performance was recognized by senior AETC leaders."

Roberts credits his win to the 97th Operational Support Squadron weather team at Altus Air Force Base, Okla, where he is deployed from. Roberts and his team also won a team award. They were named the AETC 2011 Outstanding Weather Organization.

"I think a huge reason we won these awards is because we went from a 'satisfactory' to an 'outstanding' rating on the Standards and Evaluation Program for Weather Operations inspection," he said. "Plus, we were the first weather flight in AETC to get an 'outstanding' rating on this major inspection."

Roberts said he and his team put in a lot of time and effort gearing up for the inspection.

"I set goals, milestones, expectations and deadlines for the entire team," he said. "And, I held everyone accountable to them, including myself. We also spent a lot of time focusing on the details because when you do that, you will get an accurate product."

Roberts said this deployment as an executive officer is allowing him to see a different side of the Air Force mission.

"Instead of forecasting, I deal with travel requests, redeployment issues, equipment turn-ins, performance reports and other administrative tasks," he said. "Since November 2011, I've processed more than 600 awards and decorations."

Roberts said he tries to be involved with the weather flight here during his spare time.

"I have a great relationship with the weather team out here," he said. "In fact, one of them is on my team back at Altus. So, I eat lunch with them pretty often and we usually discuss the latest weather trends."

Lt. Col. Paul Schmidt, 332nd EOG deputy commander, said he enjoys working with Roberts.

"He is proactive, extremely professional and is very thorough with a high attention to detail," Schmidt said. "Because of these qualities, I am not surprised at all that he was selected as the award winner for his work in the weather career field. He has definitely expanded his knowledge and experience during this deployment and I expect to see continued greatness from him."

Col. Rodney Petithomme, 332nd EOG commander, agrees.

"Roberts is a terrific executive officer," Petithomme said. "He's always on top of the issues that are important to not only me but the wing as well. He has been a great role model for officers and enlisted alike. We couldn't do the things we do every day without his great work."

This is Robert's second individual award from AETC. He was also named the 2010 Battlefield Weather Company Grade Officer of the year for his work at Wheeler Army Airfield, Hawaii. He is a native of Pearl River, La.

Award winner