Travis Airman named Air Force's best

Published Jan. 31, 2014
By Senior Airman Charles V. Rivezzo
60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs

TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Growing up on a farm in Jacksonville, Fla., Airman 1st Class David Holliman didn't deal with many electronic devices as a kid.

However, nowadays, he operates and maintains some of the military's most advanced ground radar and radio equipment . Moreover, he was recently named one of the Air Force's best for 2013.

As part of the 2013 Air Force Information Dominance Awards, Holliman was named the Outstanding Airfield Systems Airman of the Year Jan. 16.

Serving as an airfield systems technician with the 60th Communications Squadron, Holliman specializes in maintaining fixed mobile meteorological, navigational and air traffic control ground-to-air radio systems.

His mission is to ensure every single Travis aircraft can take off and land safely, provide guidance to the runway and clear communication between air traffic controllers and pilots.

"Coming into this career field was a complete culture shock for me," he said. "A lot of the guys I work with have advanced degrees and knowledge of electronics. I didn't grow up messing around with any of that stuff, so there was definitely a steep learning curve I had to overcome."

Although this Air Force-level award reflects the accomplishments of one individual, Holliman was quick to point out that this award was more about his team than one Airman's success.

"Earning this award was a true team effort," Holliman said. "There are very few things I do by myself and this recognition is honestly the accumulation of everyone's hard work and dedication. I firmly believe any one of our guys could have won this award."

Holliman is part of a small shop of fewer than 10 Airmen who are responsible for one of the Air Force's largest air mobility organizations, a task they are more than capable to handle.

One of the unit's shining achievements was an outstanding rating during its airfield operations and certification inspections, an accomplishment only one other Air Mobility Command unit can stake claim to throughout the last two years.

"Holliman knows how to implement the definition of TEAM -- Together Everyone Achieves More -- in his workplace," said Senior Airman Richard Rodriguez, 60th CS and Holliman's supervisor. "He's proactive with his co-workers at all times with a positive and can-do attitude which has led him down the path of success."

As an individual award winner, Holliman may wear the Air Force Recognition Ribbon or the Air Force Recognition Pin, as authorized by Air Force Instruction 2805.