Equal Opportunity Awards

Technical Sergeant Donna M Shea distinguished herself by meritorious service while serving as Military Equal Opportunity Technician, Equal Opportunty Office, 633rd Air Base Wing, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia. During this period, Sergeant Shea consistently demonstrated exemplary leadership and initiative in enhancing the Equal Opportunity program. She led twenty unit climate assessments that provided commanders with an insightful and concise view of their human relations climates. In addition, she improved the Human Relations Education Program by updating critical data for fifteen hundred military and civilian personnel ensuring Equal Opportunity Program compliance. Further, Sergeant Shea provided assistance on a complex National Guard Bureau complaint on behalf of the Air Force staff, ensuring prompt resolution and Air Force compliance. Finally, she played a vital role in combining Army and Air Force Equal Opportunity Programs under joint base requirements. The distinctive accomplishments of Sergeant Shea reflect credit upon herself, the 633rd Air Base Wing and the United States Air Force.

Lieutenant Colonel Frank O. Rogers distinguished himself by meritorious service while serving as Equal Opportunity Director, 604th Regional Support Group (RSG), 4th Air Force, March Air Reserve Base, California. During this period, Lieutenant Colonel Rogers distinguished himself as the top Equal Opportunity Director at the 604th Regional Support Group, providng expert oversight, direction, and consultation to senior leadership at 11 Wings and two geographically seperated units. He provided extensive and valuable support to commanders related to difficult personnel issues including Equal Opportunity clarification inquiries and Staff Assistance Visits to ensure the continuity of Air Force Equal Opportunity programs and services. In addition, Colonel Rogers deployed three times to support contingency operations and the Equal Opportunity program. During these deployments, he supported Air Force Equal Opportunity Programs and advised Senior Civilian Advisors and Afghan Army and Police officers on Human Resource Policy development and implementation of Equal Opportunity programs for Afghan Army and Police units. Finally, he guided the implementation of new, on-line reporting systems and programs for the Equal Opportunity program that linked Wings, Numbered Air Force Commands, and Air Force Reserve Command and provided real time reporting on critical events related to Equal Opportunity Climate Assets, complaints, and resolutions at all 11 Wings under the 4th Air Force. The distinctive accomplishments of Lieutenant Colonel Rogers reflect credit upon himself, the 604th Regional Support Group and the United States Air Force.

Master Sergeant Shari A. Sommers distinguished herself by meritorious service while serving as Noncommissioned Officer in Charge, Equal Opportunity Office, 39th Air Base Wing, Wing Staff Agency, Incirlik Air Base, Turkey. During this period, Sergeant Sommers aided 38 senior leaders in support of a Wing, six geographically separated units, and four tenant units, supporting three Combatant Commands. Her expertise and commitment were substantial in maintaining mission readiness for over 5,200 Wing members by recognizing trends and eradicating barriers to unit effectiveness. She administered 18 climate assessments and conducted 120 hours of data analysis, providing critical feedback concerning readiness obstacles to commanders. Additionally, she coordinated with four agencies on two joint events with over 170 participants and volunteers spreading awareness of the program. Finally, she was hand-selected to co-chair and present at the command's first Equal Opportunity training seminar which 26 joint service members attended. The distinctive accomplishments of Sergeant Sommers reflect credit upon herself, the 39th Air Base Wing and the United States Air Force.

Major Yolanda R Houseal distinguished herself by meritorious service while serving as Director of Equal Opportunity, 94th Airlift Wing, Dobbins Air Reserve Base, Georgia. During this period, the professional skill, leadership, and ceaseless efforts of Major Houseal contributed to the effectiveness and success of the Air Force Equal Opportunity Program. She regularly briefed senior leaders and commanders on their unit climate, identifying deficiencies and amplifying awareness of equal opportunity and equal employment opportunity programs. She coordinated the Wing Defense Organizational Climate Survey (DEOCS) and streamlined its implementation for over 3,000 Reservists and civilians. Additionally, Major Houseal dedicated over 40 hours to Equal Opportunity workshops, enhancing the effectiveness of Wing helping agencies. Moreover, she facilitated 11 focus groups for multiple units, and identified negative trends in an effort to improve human relations in the work environment. Finally, she led First Duty Station training for over 200 Airmen and civilians, promoting the Equal Opportunity program and alternative dispute resolution policies and processes to sustain positive human relations. The distinctive accomplishments of Major Houseal reflect credit upon herself, the 94th Airlift Wing, and the United States Air Force.

Master Sergeant Susan D. Meyer distinguished herself in the performance of outstanding service to the United States as Deputy Director, Equal Opportunity, 51st Fighter Wing, Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea from 12 July 2014 to 23 August 2015. During this period, Sergeant Meyer led the Equal Opportunity office in the absence of the director for three consecutive months. In this important assignment, she processed three informal complaints, three civilian Equal Employment Opportunity complaints, and served as Subject Matter Expert for three commander level issues, reducing the costs of conflicts, improving the quality of outcomes, and preserving resources. In addition, she developed two training sessions on the implementation of the newly mandated Secretary of Defense Equal Opportunity Climate Survey and guided eight cultural committees emphasizing awareness and diversity. Furthermore, she completed nine Unit Climate Asessments and out-briefed the Seventh Air Force three star general on trend data for one critical survey. Finally, Sergeant Meyer conducted 23 human relations briefings to more than 1,100 military and civilian personnel underscoring the importance of Equal Opportunity. The singularly distinctive accomplishments of Sergeant Meyer reflect great credit upon herself, the 51st Fighter Wing and the United States Air Force.

Master Sergeant Michelle C. Nelson distinguished herself by meritorious service while serving as Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge, 916th Air Refueling Wing Equal Opportunity Office, Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina. During this period, Sergeant Nelson's technical expertise, leadership ability, and committment to duty resulted in major contributions to the effectiveness and success of the Equal Opportunity Office. She provided key leadership in the execution and administration of Equal Opportunity, Area Dispute Resolution initiatives, Mentoring, and Training programs. Additionally, she deployed in support of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom and aggressively led Equal Opportunity efforts across six bases. She presented more than 2,000 newcomers briefings, briefed over 10,000 Soldiers and Airmen, and led over 30 assessments and 2,300 interviews. The distinctive accomplishments of Sergeant Nelson reflect credit upon herself, the 916th Air Refueling Wing and the United States Air Force.

Technical Sergeant Shane W. Bussey distinguished himself by meritorious service while serving as Equal Opportunity Advisor, 17th Training Wing, Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas. During this period, Sergeant Bussey provided human relations education to over five thousand members, processed four formal complaints, and conducted twenty unit climate assessments. Additionally, he utilized his expertise on nine Commander Directed Investigations, saving the Wing over 300 man-hours. Further, his attention to detail as interim Equal Opportunity Chief resulted in a 100 percent on-time rate for all Wing suspenses. Finally, he was awarded two Community College of the Air Force degrees in Social Services and Human Recource Management. The distinctive accomplishments of Sergeant Bussey reflect credit upon himself, the 17th Training Wing and the United States Air Force.

Technical Sergeant Wayne Aguilar distinguished himself by meritorious service while serving as Equal Opportunity Specialist, Equal Employment Opportunity Strategy & Integration Office, Ogden Air Logistics Complex (OO-ALC), Hill Air Force Base, Utah. During this period, the outstanding professional skill, leadership, and ceaseless efforts of Sergeant Aguilar resulted in major contributions to the effectiveness and success of the Air Force Equal Opportunity Program. As an Equal Opportunity Specialist, Sergeant Aguilar filled in as the Equal Opportunity Superintendant and was instrumental in ensuring Hill Air Force Base was the first Air Force installation to achieve full integration of the civilian and military Equal Opportunity Programs. Additionally, as the motorcycle safety coordinator for OO-ALC, Sergeant Aguilar, developed new methods to track, train, and ensure the safety of more than 60 riders. The distinctive accomplishments of Sergeant Aguilar reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.