388th Fighter Wing names Airmen of 2008 Published March 3, 2009 By Maj. Bernadette Dozier 388th Fighter Wing Public Affairs HILL AIR FORCE BASE, Utah -- The 388th Fighter Wing saluted its top performers at the annual awards banquet last Saturday at the Davis Conference Center. "Thank you all for helping us recognize our very best Airmen of 2008," said Col. Scott Dennis, 388th FW commander. "We honor all our nominees because you're the best and brightest. To the award winners tonight, you stand tall amongst all of us and we are very proud of you. "And for every one of the nominees tonight, there are hundreds of folks out there in the 388th doing the job every day that make us come together as a team," he said. As part of the evening's festivities, the guest speaker was Maj. Gen. Stephen L. Hoog, former 388th FW commander and current commander of the U.S. Air Force Warfare Center at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. The general was recently selected for reassignment as Deputy Combined Forces Air Component Commander, U.S. Central Command; Deputy Commander, Air Force Forces; and Vice Commander, 9th Air Expeditionary Task Force, Air Combat Command, Southwest Asia. "We're honored to have an incredible warrior with the background to prove it - he's been there, done that and he's going back to do it again," Dennis said of the general. "For all of us in this room, I think it makes us feel good in our hearts knowing we can follow his leadership downrange." In turn, the general had nothing but praise for the wing. "The flightline looks pristine, the aircraft look great and you've been deployed for who knows how many days flying combat missions," General Hoog said. "In other words, you're just doing it better than I ever could've imagined when I was here." "Thanks to the nominees and to the family members, supervisors and coworkers who helped them become who they are today - because no one becomes a superior Airman or officer or leader or wingman on their own effort," he said. "It always takes people who invest the time to mentor and support them. So thanks, to the supervisors and most importantly the families for all you've done." Hoog also spoke of the wing's 2008 accomplishments, which included having more than 2,000 personnel deployed, executing about 3,300 combat missions and logging more than 13,000 combat hours. "Your vision is to build a premier airpower team in the combat Air Force. Your mission is to recruit, train and deploy combat-ready regular and citizen Airmen to 'Fly, Fight and Win' the current and future conflicts... and 'Fly, Fight and Win' you did in 2008." To thank the general for taking part in the banquet, the wing donated $100 in his name to the Pilot-for-a-Day program, which the wing hosts annually in coordination with the Make-a-Wish Foundation. In closing, Dennis highlighted the efforts of all 388th members. "Nobody bears up under pressure better than the 388th. It's been a busy and super successful year," he said. "It continues as we speak now with the 4th Fighter Squadron folks airborne over hostile territory supporting our Army and Marine brothers on the ground. "I don't know where we find these awesome Airmen, but I know where they live now," Dennis said. "They live in the 388th. I'm honored to be called one of them." Airmen of the Year awards included: Airman: Senior Airman Michelle Sharpe, 388th Operations Support Squadron Non-commissioned officer: Tech. Sgt. Joshua Miller, 388th Component Maintenance Squadron Senior non-commissioned officer: Master Sgt. Trey Munn, 388th Equipment Maintenance Squadron First sergeant: Master Sgt. Jody Coleman, 388th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron Company grade officer: Capt. Douglas Dodge, 388th Maintenance Operations Squadron Field grade officer: Maj. Alex Dubovik, 388th Maintenance Operations Squadron Civilian: Joe "J.D." Crow, 388th Operations Group Volunteer: Myong Hui Czop