419th Fighter Wing's best honored at annual banquet

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  • 419th Fighter Wing
HILL AIR FORCE BASE, Utah --  The 419th Fighter Wing announced winners of the 2010 Outstanding Airmen of the Year awards at a special event Feb. 26.

419th Fighter Wing First Sergeant of the Year is Master Sgt. Chris Sayre, 419th Security Forces Squadron. First sergeant of more than 80 security forces members, Sayre ensured the completion of more than 190 personnel-related taskings, making certain the squadron maintained heightened operational tempo. He expertly developed and maintained continuity in a wide array of programs, including the mission-critical Family Care Program. His efforts ensured all Airmen in his unit had essential plans in place for their dependants in the event of deployments or emergencies.

419th Fighter Wing Senior Noncommissioned Officer of the Year is Master Sgt. Drue Titensor, 419th Maintenance Squadron. As structural aircraft maintenance section chief, Titensor led 84 Air Force members to the successful generation of more than 9,000 sorties and nearly 13,000 flying hours. He also supervised the replacement of 18 F-16 wing enclosure ribs, saving more than $60,000 in depot repair costs and about 78 hours in down time. Additionally, he completed more than 100 core tasks in aircraft structural maintenance cross-training, and achieved an end-of-course examination score of 85 percent.

419th Fighter Wing NCO of the Year is Tech. Sgt. Ronald Beard, 419th Security Forces Squadron. Beard, a security forces craftsman, led a four-person fire team and combat patrol training team in October's Operational Readiness Exercise. His efforts eliminated simulated mortar and sniper attack threats to ongoing F-16 flight missions and operations. His superlative combat leadership skills resulted in his being recognized as an outstanding performer by the Exercise Evaluation Team.

419th Fighter Wing Airman of the Year is Senior Airman Sterling Broadhead, 67th Aerial Port Squadron. Broadhead, an air transportation journeyman, was one of the first to volunteer for a 65-day deployment to Port-au-Prince, Haiti, in support of Operation Unified Relief. While deployed with the 24th Air Expeditionary Group, he was instrumental in off-loading 12,000 tons of humanitarian aid, processing 15,000 passengers, and providing aid to more than 7,000 displaced evacuees.

419th Fighter Wing Company Grade Officer of the Year is Capt. Shad Stromberg, 466th Fighter Squadron. F-16 pilot Stromberg volunteered to deploy with the 34th Fighter Squadron to Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan, where he flew more than 16 combat sorties in support of U.S. and coalition forces throughout the theater of operations. Flawlessly performing under pressure, he was instrumental in rescuing a forward operating base from being overrun by terrorists, and saved an F-16 with an engine oil system malfunction and navigation failure over the Atlantic Ocean.

419th Fighter Wing Civilian of the Year is Cooper Remkes, 419th Maintenance Squadron. Remkes is an office services assistant and functional area records manager. He spearheaded his squadron's initial implementation of electronic finance for the submission of orders and travel vouchers, tracking all submissions throughout the year. His contribution in training traditional reserve personnel on support staff processes, coupled with his outstanding management of his squadron's orders and financial records, resulted in the elimination of 20 overdue reports, the creation of 35 updated mobility folders, and zero discrepancies noted during the 2010 Staff Assistance Visit.

Other awards presented during the event include the following:

Diamond Excellence Award

Master Sgt. Mark Bates, 419th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron

Chief's Award

Tech. Sgt. Justin Adams, 67th Aerial Port Squadron

Honor Guard Member of the Year

Master Sgt. Dave Graham, 419th Medical Squadron

Wing Commander's Servant Leadership Award

Capt. Jill Stout, 419th Operations Group

Employer of the Year

Brian Cink, Delta Airlines