AFSC 2A5X1
Aerospace Maintenance
Awards
See also: Maintenance Operations Center (MOC) Awards
See also: Aerospace Ground Equipment (AGE) Awards
Aerospace Maintenance Journeyman
Senior Airman John Snuffy distinguished himself by meritorious service as an Aerospace Maintenance Journeyman, 123d Maintenance Squadron, 123d Maintenance Group, 123rd Maintenance Wing, Dover Air Force Base, Delaware. Airman Snuffy's technical expertise proved instrumental during a main landing gear tire change that was discovered prior to crew show. He changed the tire in half the two-hour standard, leading to a successful training mission and graduation of three student flight engineers. Additionally, he expertly detected and isolated a propellor engine oil leak during a preflight inspection. He swiftly replaced the propellor dome seals, saving the United States Air Force $540,000 in propellor replacement costs and returning the aircraft back to fully mission capable status. Finally, Airman Snuffy displayed outstanding professionalism during the 2020 Air and Education Training Command Logistics Compliance Assessment Program inspection when he flawlessly towed two C-130 aircraft, earning a "zero defect" rating for each evaluation. His professionalism was praised by name during the inspection debrief. His actions led directly to the squadron's "Outstanding" rating from the inspection. The distinctive accomplishments of Airman Snuffy reflect credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.
Aerospace Maintenance Craftsman
Staff Sergeant Erik V. Marsaln distinguished himself by outstanding achievement as an Aerospace Maintenance Craftsman, 728th Air Mobility Squadron, Incirlik Air Base, Turkey. During this period, Sergeant Marsaln provided exceptional maintenance capability critical to the completion of over 2,048 combat airlift missions delivering over 11,000 passengers while sustaining an impressive 93 percent maintenance departure reliability rate. More specifically, while performing a basic post inlet and exhaust inspection, Sergeant Marsaln identified and repaired six damaged first stage fan blades, eliminating parts order and mission delay saving Air Force $60K in replacement costs. His actions enabled delivery of essential blood and medical supplies to awaiting forces in Baghdad. Additionally, his expeditious assessment and replacement of a C-17 engine ignition lead under "red ball" time constraints guaranteed zero delay in the delivery of supplies to war fighters in Afghanistan. Finally, his astute leadership was vital to the 728th Air Mobility Squadron moving over 33,000 tons of cargo. The distinctive accomplishments of Sergeant Marsaln reflect credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.
VC-25A Craftsman
Technical Sergeant Brandon W. Whitley distinguished himself by meritorious service as a VC-25A Craftsman, Presidential Logistics Squadron, Presidential Airlift Group, 89th Airlift Wing, Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. During this period, Sergeant Whitley was critical in the successful completion of 106 Presidential missions and over one thousand flight hours across six continents including visits to 23 countries over the course of two Presidential administrations. Additionally, he was selected as a support craftsman where he ensured the serviceability of 19,000 support items valued at 7.8 million dollars, ensuring maintenance readiness. Further, as the Unit's Tool Management Director, he expedited the acquisition of 499,000 dollars in tools to support the next generation Air Force One. Finally, Sergeant Whitley demonstrated his technical expertise by being selected as a Tiger Team member charged with completing the first-ever in-house horizontal jack screw replacement, negating the need for a field team, saving the unit over 500,000 dollars and ensuring aircraft safety for President Biden's campaign trail visit to Boston. The distinctive accomplishments of Sergeant Whitley reflect credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.
Aerospace Maintenance Journeyman
Staff Sergeant Christian M. Marcale distinguished himself by meritorious service as an Aerospace Maintenance Journeyman, 176th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, 176th Maintenance Group, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska. During this period, Sergeant Marcale was responsible for maintaining eight C-130H aircraft while deployed to Kuwait, which enabled the generation of 2,067 flying hours, delivered 4,143 tons of cargo and 8,698 passengers in support of Operation INHERENT RESOLVE. Additionally, Sergeant Marcale was an integral part of a hand selected team that inventoried and divested three Alaska based legacy C-130H aircraft. His efforts secured the on-time relocation of these aircraft to new units in Ohio and Texas. Finally, Sergeant Marcale led a team in the replacement of three brake assemblies on a C-17 and facilitated an axle repair for an aircraft preparing for a critical international maritime warfare exercise and ultimately secured the transport of the MIM-104 Patriot Missile system in support of exercise RIMPAC 2020. The distinctive accomplishments of Sergeant Marcale reflect credit upon himself, the Air National Guard, and the United States Air Force.
Aerospace Maintenance Journeyman
Senior Airman Joshua W Donart distinguished himself by meritorious service while serving as Aerospace Maintenance Journeyman, 721st Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, 521st Air Mobility Operations Wing, Ramstein Air Base, Germany. During this period, Airman Donart executed 127 aircraft inspections which were instrumental in the safe movement of over 85 mission departures, airlifting 16,000 tons of cargo and 7,000 warfighters with an impressive 90 percent logistics departure and reliability rate, culminating in the Wing earning three consecutive Meritorious Unit Awards. Additionally, Airman Donart collaborated with Army personnel and disassembled and loaded five UH-60s which provided critical airborne assault and tactical transport capabilities in support of Operations INHERENT RESOLVE and FREEDOM'S SENTINEL. Furthermore, Airman Donart expeditiously isolated and replaced a defective C-17 window, resulting in the immediate takeoff of fifteen critically wounded patients to Walter Reed Military Medical Center, cementing the squadron's 2017 Maintenance Effectiveness Award win. The distinctive accomplishments of Sergeant Donart reflect credit upon himself, the 721st Aircraft Maintenance Squadron and the United States Air Force.
Aerospace Maintenance Craftsman
Staff Sergeant Jason T. Hunt distinguished himself by meritorious service while serving as Aerospace Maintenance Craftsman, 721st Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, 521st Air Mobility Operations Wing, Ramstein Air Base, Germany. During this period, Sergeant Hunt accurately diagnosed a cargo door operation system failure and successfully rigged the singular bound ditching lock which restored loading operations, resulting in the immediate takeoff of a UH-60 Blackhawk and 42 special forces members to Africa in support of Operation JUNIPER MICRON. Additionally, when there was a disabled aircraft blocking the active runway, Sergeant Hunt formed an emergency tow team, enabling the successful recovery of an incapacitated weapons system valued at 213 million dollars in under fifteen minutes. Finally, as a debrief controller, he efficiently reported aircraft statuses and prioritized and expedited critical maintenance repair actions on 17 airlift missions which were instrumental in the Israel-Saudi Arabia summit, culminating in the Wing's three consecutive Meritorious Unit Awards and the 2017 Verne Orr Award win. The distinctive accomplishments of Staff Sergeant Hunt reflect credit upon himself, the 721st Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, and the United States Air Force.
Aerospace Maintenance Journeyman
Senior Airman David Long distinguished himself by meritorious service while serving as Aerospace Maintenance Journeyman, 721st Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, 521st Air Mobility Operations Wing, Ramstein Air Base, Germany. During this period, Airman Long's maintenance expertise and unwavering dedication to the mission enabled him to execute 130 critical aircraft inspections which were instrumental in the safe movement of over 85 mission departures, airlifting 16,000 tons of cargo and 7,000 warfighters with an impressive 89 percent logistics departure-reliability rate. Additionally, Airman Long's ceaseless attention to detail allowed him to accurately accomplish over 9,000 consolidated tool kit transactions, resulting in 16 emergency aircraft launch repairs in support of Operations INHERENT RESOLVE and FREEDOM'S SENTINEL. Furthermore, Airman Long used his technical expertise to troubleshoot and replace a leaking nose landing gear steering actuator. His immediate actions were pivotal in securing the 2017 Air Mobility Command's Aviation Safety Award. Finally, Airman Long's dedication to duty was crucial to the Wing earning three consecutive Meritorious Unit Awards and the 2018 Squadron Maintenance Effectiveness Award. The distinctive accomplishments of Airman Long reflect credit upon himself, the 721st Aircraft Maintenance Squadron and the United States Air Force.
Aerospace Maintenance Craftsman
Staff Sergeant Michel R. Nelson distinguished himself by meritorious service as Aerospace Maintenance Craftsman, Detachment 5, 521st Air Mobility Operations Group, 521st Air Mobility Operations Wing, Joint Base Balad, Iraq, from XXXXX XXXXX to XXXXXX XXXXXX. During this period, as a C-5 and C-17 aircraft mechanic, Sergeant Nelson contributed to the launch of over 500 C-5 and C-17 missions, transporting more than 20,000 tons of cargo and moving over 25,000 passengers in support of Operations IRAQI and ENDURING FREEDOM. In addition, while under constant threat of rocket and mortar attacks, Sergeant Nelson responded to a C-5 with hot brakes and an unserviceable main landing gear. He quickly organized and coordinated the required repair assets and support equipment and restored the vital Air Mobility Command asset to fully mission capable status in less than three hours. Finally, Sergeant Nelson was instrumental to the successful launch of 124 medical evacuation missions through the Department of Defense's busiest airfield ensuring 346 critically wounded patients reached medical care at Ramstein Air Base, Germany. The distinctive accomplishments of Staff Sergeant Nelson reflect credit upon himself, the 521st Air Mobility Operations Group, and the United States Air Force.
Aerospace Maintenance Journeyman
Staff Sergeant Christopher B. Adriazola distinguished himself by meritorious service while serving as Aerospace Maintenance Journeyman, 726th Air Mobility Squadron, 721st Air Mobility Operations Group, Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany from XXXXX XXXXX to XXXXX XXXXXX. During this period, Sergeant Adriazola's efforts contributed to the launch and recovery of more than 2,000 Operation ENDURING FREEDOM missions and 19,000 tons of cargo, while maintaining an eighty-eight percent maintenance reliability rate. In addition, Sergeant Adriazola was handpicked to represent the squadron at the 2014 En Route Equipment Conference where he returned four high demand assets worth forty-five thousand dollars to the supply system, restoring stock levels to one hundred percent and increasing readiness. Moreover, he processed and tracked 3,700 parts worth eleven million dollars, ensuring a two-day average turn-in for Due In For Maintenance assets, besting the Air Force standard by ninety-five percent. Finally, Sergeant Adriazola led a one-hundred percent tool and equipment review prior to the 2015 Logistics Standardization and Evaluation Program inspection, resulting in the maintenance flight receiving an "Outstanding" rating. The distinctive accomplishments of Sergeant Adriazola reflect great credit upon himself, the 726th Air Mobility Squadron, and the United States Air Force.