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618th AOC member named Outstanding Individual Reservist of the Year

  • Published
  • By Capt. Justin Brockhoff
  • 618th Air and Space Operations Center Public Affairs
SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. --  Senior Master Sgt. Donna Crone, the 618th Air and Space Operations Center's Director of Operations superintendent, was named Air Force Reserve Command's 2010 Outstanding Individual Reservist of the Year for the senior non-commissioned officer category in an announcement Nov. 17.

The award, part of the Air Force Reserve Command's annual awards program, recognizes the top reservist from the junior NCO, senior NCO and company grade officer categories, for his or her contributions to the Air Force mission.

Sergeant Crone, a command post controller with 25 years of combined active duty, Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve experience, joined the 618th AOC in 2006 and has served with the unit ever since.

Her responsibilities include the effective monitoring of more than 900 point-to-point flights, called sorties, every day and reporting those details to 18th Air Force, Air Mobility Command and U.S. Transportation Command senior leaders. Sergeant Crone's duties also include a specific focus on the daily movements of senior government officials from military general officers to cabinet-level secretaries on military aircraft.

In 2010 alone, Sergeant Crone is credited with supporting the delivery of more than 715,000 tons of cargo and 1.8 million passengers on Air Mobility Command missions worldwide. In addition, Sergeant Crone provided key assistance to more than 200 missions supporting the President of the United States, and the delivery of more than 5,600 Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles to forces in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"Sergeant Crone is the epitome of a professional," said Mr. Rich Richardson, the 618th AOC's Senior Director of Operations. "She's not only effective at her day-to-day responsibilities, but goes above-and-beyond with every task. I can't think of anyone more deserving of this award."

In addition to the day-to-day operations the 618th AOC supported, Sergeant Crone was integral to operations during the Afghanistan 30,000 troop plus-up, as well as global humanitarian operations in Haiti and Pakistan. She also assisted in planning an annual reserve training assembly ensuring more than 100 reserve members received training necessary to retain mission capable status.

"I feel honored to be recognized for my contributions in supporting global mobility operations over the past year," said Sergeant Crone. "I'm especially grateful and humbled that my leadership thought enough of my contributions to the mission to take the time to nominate me for this award. I could not have done this without the support of the entire Director of Operations directorate. When you work along great people it tends to make you step up to do your best."

On top of the on-duty accomplishments, Sergeant Crone is involved in the local community, serving in multiple roles and volunteering both on- and off-base. All of this comes on top of volunteering for her fifth 365-day tour to support global mobility operations from the 618th AOC's deployed-in-place location at Scott Air Force Base, Ill.

"I'm a reservist on active-duty orders, so I've been deployed from my home in Oregon for the last five years," added Sergeant Crone. "But the time away is well worth it, and I consider myself lucky to serve with an organization that has such a big impact on overseas operations."

Sergeant Crone's exposure to the Air Force started the day she was born at Grand Forks Air Force Base, N.D. Her family has a long history of military service, which was very influential on her decision to enlist in the Air Force after graduating from Lakenheath American High School at Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England.

"The feelings of honor and pride that come with military service are something you just can't match," added Sergeant Crone. "I've been a part of the Air Force family my entire life and I can't imagine a day without being a part of this great organization."

Sergeant Crone will be presented the Air Force Recognition Ribbon, and recognized for her achievement, by the Readiness Management Group during the national Reserve Officer Association conference in Washington, D.C., Jan. 31 to Feb. 2, 2011.