JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO, Texas –
The Diamond Sharp Award is sponsored by the Joint Base San Antonio First Sergeants Council and recognizes outstanding Airmen who continually exceed the standard to meet the Air Force mission.
RANK/NAME: Tech. Sgt. Nicholas Chung
UNIT: 616th Operations Center
DUTY TITLE: NCOIC, Operations Training Development
TIME IN SERVICE: 10 years, 9 months
HOMETOWN: Los Angeles, California
Tech. Sgt. Nicholas Chung developed and delivered the 616th Operations Center Instructor Program. He was the unit’s first K-prefix Instructor and also achieved his evaluator qualification to ease a manning deficit and qualify the initial cadre. He also completed his term as Booster Club President having led 10 events, built four programs, and acquired a $10,000 scholarship for a unit member. Finally, he took the lead in coordinating a monthly commander’s call and transformed it into “A Day at Tech Port SA.” He worked with Alamo Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association and Toastmasters to sponsor a day of professional development and experience the state-of-the-art innovation campus.
RANK/NAME: Tech. Sgt. Brittney Femiak
UNIT: 59th Radiology Squadron
Duty title: NCOIC, Diagnostic Imaging
Time in service: 8 years, 9 months
Hometown: Parkton, North Carolina
Tech. Sgt. Brittney Femiak gap-filled as flight chief for 42 staff and three of radiology’s most demanding departments. In this role, she collaborated with surgery ops to re-launch a five-year dormant procedure that is projected to recoup $2 million annually. She also cultivated a JBSA Pitsenbarger Scholarship winner. Additionally, Femiak provided two weeks of squadron first sergeant coverage where she advised the commander on three adverse actions and swiftly corrected two quality-of-life issues. Lastly, she rallied 12 volunteers in support of the San Antonio Food Bank and her team packaged 43,000 pounds of food that will help support 100,000 families across 29 counties.
RANK/NAME: Senior Airman Erika Dominguez
UNIT: Air Force Life Cycle Management Center/Det. 6 Cryptologic Depot Maintenance Center
DUTY TITLE: COMSEC Maintenance Technician
TIME IN SERVICE: 6 Years, 8 Months
HOMETOWN: San Antonio, Texas
Senior Airman Erika Dominguez guided $9.4 million state-of-the-art analysis equipment, performing function tests, restorations, and demilitarization, which support $3 billion in COMSEC operations. Dominguez also organized the organization's Habitat for Humanity volunteer opportunity. Her efforts ensured the 32-member team contributed eight hours and finished key projects that ensured six families could live in safe and affordable homes. Finally, as a cornerstone of coordinating the “CCSD Summer Bash, Dominguez led a 25-member team that devoted 200 hours to set up, tear down and planning. Her dedication led to the branch’s first block party for 1,400 military and civilians post-COVID-19.
RANK/NAME: Senior Airman Alexis Jalomos
UNIT: 502nd Security Forces Squadron
Duty title: Installation Patrolman
Time in service: 5 years, 6 months
Hometown: Del Rio, Texas
On Nov. 30, 2022, Senior Airman Alexis Jalomos was working the Schofield Road installation access point at JBSA-Fort Sam Houston when she observed a vehicle heading towards the base at a high rate of speed. As the vehicle breached the installation, she sprang into action and initiated pursuit in an attempt to stop the erratic driver. Without regard for her own safety, she took command and control of the situation while pursuing the suspect until follow-on forces were able to assist. Her actions ultimately led to the arrest of the suspect who was found to be under the influence of alcohol and had numerous felony convictions.
RANK/NAME: Senior Airman Mercedes Mata
UNIT: 502nd Operations Support Squadron
DUTY TITLE: Commander Support Staff
TIME IN SERVICE: 3 years
HOMETOWN: San Antonio, Texas
Senior Airman Mercedes Mata provided continuous support and training to a newly assigned accessions officer increasing section productivity. While directing the records management program, she enforced user training ensuring 100% compliance, rectified four deficiencies, and oversaw the safeguarding of 8,000 aircrew members’ flight records. She completed three college courses maintaining a 3.9 GPA and led four fitness sessions enabling zero failures while boosting morale. Lastly, she assisted with the 502nd Air Base Wing Beast Day, enhancing wing cohesion, led a nine-member team at the Food Bank distributing 14,000 pounds of food to 95 families, and pinned 50 veterans during a nursing facility Veterans Day ceremony.
RANK/NAME: Senior Airman Blake Prestenbach
UNIT: 616th Air Communications Squadron
DUTY TITLE: Virtual Clients Technician
TIME IN SERVICE: 3 years, 11 months
HOMETOWN: Houma, Louisiana
Senior Airman Blake Prestenbach is a system administrator servicing 1,500 accounts spanning three enclaves. He aced a 40-hour Microsoft PowerShell course and showcased his new capabilities by creating a system management script that automated three daily processes, saving 184 work hours annually and standardizing cyber defense processes across 1,350 clients. Additionally, he authored 10 scripting guides and certified 15 Airmen from three work centers, saving the Air Force $52,000 in training costs. Furthermore, he achieved a squadron's best by closing 40 tickets and deploying 520 software updates, abating 52,000 threats and hardening the Air Forces' sole $53 million Information Warfare Weapon System.