Reaching the summit

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Samantha Mathison
  • 301st Fighter Wing Public Affairs
The 301st Fighter Wing announced their 2015 award winners during a formal banquet Feb. 20 held at the Fort Worth Stockyards, Texas.

The banquet, held once a year, publicly celebrates the accomplishments of nominees and honors them for the commitment, devotion, and loyalty they've shown to their professions.

Nominees, vying for awards in 10 categories, received medallions from Col. John Breazeale, 301st Fighter Wing commander, and Chief Master Sgt. Terry Goines, 301st Fighter Wing command chief, before the banquet began. The contenders received the medallions as recognition for their status as nominees.

Maj. Gen. Richard Scobee, 10th Air Force commander and keynote speaker, gave a moving speech on the importance of a person's legacy before winners were announced.

"It's about you bringing up the Airman next to you, and them pulling the next generation of Airmen along," Scobee said. "If we do that, we're going to be better equipped, better educated, and better cared for. We're going to have more family-oriented Airmen and we're going to be better trained than any military in the history of the world."

Scobee ended his speech with a challenge to everyone in the room, using the nominees as models for his point.

"If you knew you only had a little time left, how would you live your life?" he asked. "These twenty medallion-wearing members are leading us as examples of how to make the most of the time we have left, and I'll follow their lead."

The wing commander and command chief then joined Scobee on the stage for award announcements and presentations.

Many of the winners were honored and thankful to be recognized for excellence by the wing and will soon compete at the major command level.

Tech. Sgt. Rudy Panacci, 301st Operations Support Flight quality assurance and Noncommissioned Officer of the Year, stressed he only won because of the support, teamwork, and efforts of the Aircrew Flight Equipment section.

"It's a pretty great feeling to know that our shop won NCO of the Year 2 years in a row," Panacci said. "On a daily basis we strive for excellence to ensure our pilots are safe. If they have to use our products, they will return home safe to their families."

Breazeale, after giving out the awards, made his pride in the 301st Fighter Wing clear during his speech to the crowd.

"I've been tremendously blessed to be surrounded by a group of amazing professionals who know how to do their jobs and know how to take care of each other," Breazeale said. "This is going to be a very exciting year for the 301st Fighter Wing. With our operations tempo, we have a tremendous opportunity to serve our nation and to do it in style."

The winners were as follows:

Civilian of the Year Category I - Ms. Stephanie C. Johnson, 44th Fighter Group

Civilian of the Year Category II - Ms. Evelyn A. Mickles, 301st Fighter Wing

Civilian of the Year Category III - Mr. Scott D. Mitchell, 44th Fighter Group

Airman of the Year - Senior Airman Addison L. Schumacher, 301st Operations Support Flight

Noncommissioned Officer of the Year - Tech. Sgt. Rudy J. Panacci, 301st Operations Support Flight

Senior Noncommissioned Officer of the Year - Master Sgt. Terrance C. Calhoun, 44th Fighter Group

First Sergeant of the Year - Senior Master Sgt. Steven N. Purvis, 301st Aircraft Maintenance Squadron

Company Grade Officer of the Year - Capt. Matthew T. Tucker, 495th Fighter Group

Field Grade Officer of the Year - Lt. Col. Bryan E. Dick, 44th Fighter Group

Henry D. Green - Senior Master Sgt. Theresa M. Furbush, 301st Fighter Wing
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