JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas –
Four members of Joint Base San Antonio are among the 2021 Air Education and Training Command Outstanding Airmen of the Year. These awards recognize the important contributions, significant accomplishments and the highest qualities of leadership exhibited by enlisted, officer, and civilian members representing a cross-section of career fields.
“AETC’s annual award winners represent the best from the First Command,” said Lt. Gen. Brad Webb, AETC commander. “We ask our Airmen to develop the foundation for a lethal force every day, and these award winners set the bar high in a very challenging year. I have no doubt they are a big reason for their teams’ successes while fighting through COVID, and they helped advance, enhance, transform and cultivate excellence in our Air Force.”
The 2021 AETC Outstanding Airmen of the Year winners are:
- Airman of the Year Category: Staff Sgt. Zachary Riesselman, 56th Civil Engineer Squadron, Luke Air Force Base, Arizona
- Non-commissioned Officer of the Year Category: Tech. Sgt. Christopher Bennett, 81st Training Group, Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi
- Senior Non-commissioned Officer of the Year Category: Master Sgt. Lionel Garcia, 737th Training Support Squadron, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas
- First Sergeant of the Year Category: Master Sgt. Robert Davis, Special Warfare Training Support Squadron, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas
- Honor Guard Member of the Year Category: Senior Airman Soon Ha Kwon, 97th Force Support Squadron, Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma
- Honor Guard Program Manager of the Year Category: Tech. Sgt. Christopher Johnson, 47th Force Support Squadron, Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas
- Military Training Instructor of the Year Category: Master Sgt. Ky Covert, Officer Training School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama
- Military Training Leader of the Year Category: Tech. Sgt. Latosha L. Enoch, 17th Training Support Squadron, Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas
- Recruiter of the Year Category: Tech. Sgt. Nathaniel Hildreth, 330th Recruiting Squadron, Witchita, Kansas
- Company Grade Officer Category: Capt. Jeffrey Davis, 56th Civil Engineer Squadron, Luke Air Force Base, Arizona
- Field Grade Officer Category: Maj. Carolyn R. Price Moore, 19 Air Force, Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas
- Civilian Non-Supervisory Category I: Hei Choi, 343rd Recruiting Squadron, Omaha, Nebraska
- Civilian Non-Supervisory Category II: Rui Inacio, 49th Civil Engineer Squadron, Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico
- Civilian Non-Supervisory Category III: Teri French, Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio
- Civilian Non-Supervisory Category IV: Scott Edmondson, Air Force Culture and Language Center, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama
- Civilian Supervisory Category I: Sherry Dearinger, 802nd Force Support Squadron, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas
- Civilian Supervisory Category II: Paul Haidinger, 56th Logistics Readiness Squadron, Luke Air Force Base, Arizona
- Civilian Supervisory Category III: John Shepherd, Air University, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama
- Civilian Supervisory Category IV: Ronald Dains, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama
AETC Outstanding Airman, Staff Sgt. Zachary Riesselman; AETC NCO of the Year, Tech. Sgt. Christopher Bennett; AETC SNCO, Master Sgt. Lionel Garcia; and AETC First Sergeant of the Year, Master Sgt. Robert Davis will go on to compete for the 2021 Air Force Outstanding Airmen of the Year.
“I want to congratulate our Torchbearers who will represent The First Command and potentially be recognized as one of the Air Force’s 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year,” said Chief Master Sgt. Erik Thompson, AETC command chief master sergeant. “Our force does outstanding work every day and I am so proud of the work and dedication I see in them. There is no doubt in my mind that our Airmen are invaluable to the Air Force family.”
The 2021 Air Force Outstanding Airmen of the Year winner’s announcement is expected later this year.