An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Fairchild Airman awarded Bronze Star for meritorious achievement

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Veronica Montes
  • 92nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. --  Chief Master Sgt. Richard Penny, 92nd Civil Engineer Squadron superintendent, received the Bronze Star Medal from Col. Brian Newberry, 92nd Air Refueling Wing commander, Dec. 13, 2013, at Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash.

The chief was recognized for his meritorious achievement while he was deployed as the 1st Expeditionary Civil Engineer Group chief enlisted manager in Southwest Asia, June 5, 2012, to June 5, 2013.

"This award is on the backs of the hundreds of men and women I had the chance to work with and lead," said Penny. "It's great to get it, but you don't get it all by yourself, you've got people to help you along the way."

According to the award citation, Penny was instrumental in the rapid, effective response to a C-17 aircraft incident, overseeing the effort to design and construct a 13,000-cubic yard land bridge that directly led to the aircrafts recovery and return to the U.S.

Additionally, Penny helped design and complete 158 construction projects valued at more than 79 million dollars, spanning 23 sites in eight countries. He also oversaw forward deployed teams, traveling to their locations 24 times to provide hands-on guidance in the battlefield.

The Bronze Star Medal is the fourth-highest individual military award and the ninth-highest by order of precedence in the U.S. military. It may be awarded for acts of heroism, acts of merit, or meritorious service in a combat zone. The medal may also be awarded with valor - signified by a "V" attachment - for major acts of heroism.

"Chief Penny is a warfighter and this medal symbolizes what he and his fellow warriors did on the front lines to protect freedom," said Newberry. "The Bronze Star Medal is awarded rarely, and I am privileged to be able to recognize such an outstanding Fairchild Airman."