Officials announce Air Mobility Command's 2010 Public Affairs Communication Excellence Awards

Published Jan. 18, 2011
By Master Sgt. Scott T. Sturkol
Air Mobility Command Public Affairs

SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. -- Air Mobility Command officials announced Jan. 13 the command's annual winners for the 2010 Public Affairs Communication Excellence Awards.

Air Mobility Command Public Affairs at Scott AFB earned the "best overall communication program in support of the Air Force mission" as the command's nominee for the Air Force Public Affairs Brig. Gen. Harry J. Dalton Award. Additionally, Team Travis Public Affairs - which includes the 60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs and 615th Contingency Response Wing Public Affairs -- earned the Maj. Henry "Hap" Arnold Award for Public Affairs Communications Effectiveness.

Winners also came from other AMC bases from across the United States. Lt. Col. Glen Roberts, AMC's Director of Public Affairs, said the award winners are representation of the "great" public affairs people working in AMC.

"This year's awards highlighted the contributions of the many great Airmen, NCOs, senior NCOs, civilians and officers in our career field who do such a great job telling the AMC story every day," Colonel Roberts said. "I am very proud to lead this public affairs team and am inspired by the contributions the entire team made in 2010. I look forward to continued excellence in 2011. Remember, even if one individual wins an award, it's the entire team who shares in the spotlight."

Following are the award winners. With group awards, team members are also listed.

Group awards
- Brigadier General Harry J. Dalton Jr. Award -- Headquarters Air Mobility Command Public Affairs, Scott AFB, Ill. Team members include: (Leadership) Lt. Col. Glen Roberts, Mr. Tony Joyner, Chief Master Sgt. Ellen Schirmer and Capt. Robert Everdeen; (Current Operations Division) Maj. Heather Brennan, Capt. James Bressendorff, Capt. Amber Balken, Capt. Shilo Weir, Capt. Jon Stock, Mr. Roger Drinnon, Mr. Mark Diamond, 1st Lt. Kathleen Ferrero and Master Sgt. Scott Sturkol; (Requirements and Development Division) Mr. Ed Shannon, Senior Master Sgt. Marcos Coriano, Senior Master Sgt. Rob Wieland and Master Sgt. Angie Sarchet; (Civic Outreach Division) Mr. Mark Voorhis, Master Sgt. Genevieve Morris, Mr. Theo Ramsey and Ms. Laura McAndrews; (technical support) Tech. Sgt. Kristina Warner; and (Reserve individual mobility assistant support) Col. Dedra Witham, Lt. Col. Angela Keskey, Lt. Col. Andree Swanson, Lt. Col. Kathryn Barnsley and Capt. Katherine Kebisek.

- Maj. Henry H. "Hap" Arnold Award for Public Affairs Communication Effectiveness -- Team Travis Public Affairs, Travis AFB, Calif. Team members include: (60th AMW Public Affairs) Capt. Melissa Milner, 2nd Lt. Joel Banjo-Johnson, Staff Sgt. Patrick Harrower, Airman 1st Class Michael Battles and Ms. Asante Garrott; (615th CRW Public Affairs) Capt. Paradon Silpasornprasit and Tech. Sgt. Les Waters.

- Best Crisis Communication Award -- 6th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs, MacDill AFB, Fla. Team members include: 2nd Lt. Mark Graff, Master Sgt. Richard Kaminsky, Tech. Sgt. Tanika Belfield, Tech. Sgt. Robert Sims, Staff Sgt. Joseph Swafford, Senior Airman Katherine Holt and Senior Airman Linzi Joseph.

- Best Integrated Communication Award -- Team Travis Public Affairs, Travis Air Force Base, Calif. Team members include: (60th AMW Public Affairs) Capt. Melissa Milner, 2nd Lt. Joel Banjo-Johnson, Staff Sgt. Patrick Harrower, Airman 1st Class Michael Battles and Ms. Asante Garrott; (615th CRW Public Affairs) Capt. Paradon Silpasornprasit and Tech. Sgt. Les Waters.

- Best Innovative Program Award -- 87th Air Base Wing Public Affairs, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J. Team members include: Ms. Angel Lopez, 1st Lt. Christine Darius, 2nd Lt. Carolyn Glover, Senior Airman David Carbajal, Airman 1st Class Bryan Swink, Airman 1st Class Dennis Sloan, Mr. Pascual Flores and Mr. James Hodges.

Individual awards
- Outstanding Communication Field Grade Officer Award -- Maj. Keith Bland, Band of the Golden West, Travis AFB, Calif.

- Capt. Bradley R. Schuldt Outstanding Communication Company Grade Officer Award -- Capt. Justin Brockhoff, 618th Air Operations Center (Tanker Airlift Control Center) Public Affairs, Scott AFB, Ill.

- Outstanding Communication Intermediate Grade Civilian Award -- Ms. Angel Lopez, 87th Air Base Wing Public Affairs, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J.

- Outstanding Communication Tactical-Level Civilian Award -- Ms. Bekah Clark, 375th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs, Scott AFB, Ill.

- Outstanding Communication Senior Noncommissioned Officer Award (AMC only) -- Master Sgt. Angie Sarchet, Air Mobility Command Public Affairs, Scott AFB, Ill.

- Outstanding Band Senior Noncommissioned Officer Award (AMC only) -- Master Sgt. Michael G. Williams, Band of the Golden West, Travis AFB, Calif.

- Staff Sergeant Christopher S. Frost Outstanding Communication Noncommissioned Officer Award -- Staff Sgt. Joseph L. Swafford, 6th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs, MacDill AFB, Fla.

- Outstanding Band Noncommissioned Officer (AMC only) -- Tech. Sgt. Preston J. Keating, Band of the Golden West, Travis AFB, Calif.

- Outstanding Communication Airman Award -- Senior Airman David W. Carbajal, 87th Air Base Wing Public Affairs, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J.

- Outstanding Band Airman Award (AMC only) -- Airman 1st Class Megan Hokaj, Band of the Golden West, Travis AFB, Calif.

- A1C Darryl G. Winters Combat Communication Award -- Senior Master Sgt. Kevin Fulcher, 375th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs, Scott AFB, Ill.

"I wish the best of luck to those who will compete at the Air Force level and thank each of you for your service to our Air Force and our PA team," Colonel Roberts said.

Air Force Public Affairs Badge