Annual award ceremony honors Airmen's achievements, commitment

Published Feb. 13, 2011
By Tech. Sgt. Randy Redman
321st Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

BAGHDAD -- The 321st Air Expeditionary Wing held its' annual awards ceremony at Al Faw Palace on Victory Base Complex Feb. 11.

In addition to the nominees and friends from the 321st AEW, numerous honored guests were in attendance, including several representatives from the Iraqi Air Force.

The following individuals were selected as the best of the best from the 321st AEW.

The 2010 Noncommissioned Officer of the Year is Tech. Sgt. Paul Kinsey, 321st Expeditionary Mission Support Advisory Group.

Sergeant Kinsey is the NCOIC, Lead Communications Advisor, he led the wing's best badge program and was proactive in inventorying 166 rooms in less than two days, enabling the transfer to the Base Transition Team and keeping the IqAF bed down plan on track. Sergeant Kinsey was an outstanding Basic Life Support mentor and ensured training plans were followed. He guided 27 Iraqi Airmen on H2O generator support, ensuring 39 buildings and 438 IqAF members were ready to host incoming Iraqi security forces.

The 2010 Senior Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year is Master Sgt. David Smith, 321st AEW Wing Staff.

Sergeant Smith is a medical advisor in the 321st AEW Surgeon General's Office. He implemented the first IqAF NCO Professional Development course which graduated 340 future enlisted Iraqi leaders. Sergeant Smith created an Iraqi Air Force annual flight physical process, certifying medical readiness for 650 IqAF pilots. He was instrumental in the opening of Iraq's first Aeromedical Center; a $1.5 million construction project. A public health guru, Sergeant Smith monitored treatment of 1,200 patients, four food inspections and 90 plus water tests ensuring the protection of the IqAF personnel's health.

The 2010 Company Grade Officer of the Year is Capt. Jimmy Hernandez from the 321st Expeditionary Mission Support Advisory Group.

As a BTT deputy chief, Captain Hernandez led nine senior distinguished visitor visits, transferred two bases to the Government of Iraq and led the return of the IqAF to Ali Air Base. He teamed with the 407th Air Expeditionary Group and IqAF Squadron 70 to clean up hardened aircraft shelter's, which cemented the bed down of seven IqAF aircraft enabling 178 intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance sorties. Captain Hernandez advised the IqAF on $141 million worth of excess property transfers. He led the transfer of Q-West in less than three months; two months ahead of schedule.

The 2010 First Sergeant of the Year is Senior Master Sgt. Jerry Thornton, 321st AEW.

Sergeant Thornton skillfully crafted the wing's first-ever physical training program, ensuring the wing met all aspects of Air Forces Central's directives all the while maintaining a 92 percent pass rate. He revamped the wing's Right Start Program, slashing non-mission critical information and returning newly assigned Airmen to duty in half the time.

The 2010 321st AEW Team of the Year is the A3 Operations Division, 321st AEW Headquarters Staff.

The A3 staff members are the primary advisors for the $3.3 billion F-16 program; the largest United States and Government of Iraq Building Partnership Capacity Project. This team is the project lead for the $31 million Sector Operations Center; the command and control cornerstone of Iraq's air defense. They revamped the air traffic control training program by mobilizing 14 contractors and opened additional training locations resulting in a 60 percent increase in ATC capabilities.

The guest speaker for the event was Chief Master Sgt. Richard Parsons, U.S. Air Forces Central command chief. His speech, laced with colorful examples from his career, focused on how any Airman can become successful by mastering the Air Force Core Values of Integrity First, Service before Self, and Excellence in all We Do.