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McConnell Airman nominated for Robbie Risner Award

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Tara Fadenrecht
  • 22nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. --  After surpassing both the wing and Air Mobility Command levels, McConnell's Maj. Derrick Baker, 22nd Operations Support Squadron wing tactics officer, is now in the running to receive the Air Force 2013 Robbie Risner Award.

The award is named after Brig. General Robinson "Robbie" Risner, a highly decorated combat veteran held as a prisoner of war in North Vietnam for more than seven years.

It annually recognizes the outstanding U.S. Air Force Weapons School graduate based on performance as a weapons officer following graduation.

Nominees must show excellence in areas of leadership, instructor ability and programs.

Baker attended the USAFWS Jan. 7 through June 1, 2013 and immediately began to put his training to use.

His accomplishments include becoming the aircraft commander for the first ever aerial refueling on multilateral training missions into Jordan and developing a new training program for command and control systems used on deployed KC-135R Stratotankers. His innovation brought the mission effectiveness of the systems up to 99 percent.

"Maj. Baker is a good leader because his focus is on instruction and the development of his students," said Lt. Col. Brian Backman, 22nd Operations Support Squadron commander and Baker's supervisor. "His critical thinking skills have helped him to identify problems, analyze situations and develop solutions, producing meaningful programs for aircrew instruction."

Baker attributed much of his success to the support from his KC-135 instructor community.

"It's very humbling," said Baker. "Individual awards are never possible without an outstanding team supporting each other. I'd like to thank everyone I've worked with at McConnell Air Force Base and Seymour Johnson Air Force Base over the past year."

The 2013 Risner winner will be announced and awarded at the class 14B graduation Dec. 13, 2014.