AFSC 4T0X1 Medical Laboratory Technician Awards
Staff Sergeant Tara Mitchell distinguished herself by meritorious service while serving as Medical Laboratory Technician, 66th Medical Squadron, 66th Air Base Group, Hanscom Air Force Base, Massachusetts. During this period, Sergeant Mitchell's leadership abilities and professionalism steered the laboratory's College of American Pathology Compliance Survey Program for seven members and evaluated thirty surveys and over three hundred checklist items, culminating in two successful national reaccreditation inspections. In addition, her detailed handling of more than 1,234 molecular analyses and genetic assay shipments reduced result report times by forty eight hours and empowered commanders to mitigate the Coronavirus pandemic impact on Hanscom Air Force Base. Her actions directly contributed to the Diagnostics and Therapeutics Flight earning the 66th Air Base Group's Team of the Year award. Finally, she served on a security detail at twenty four community vaccination events, which safeguarded clinic team members that successfully administered over nine thousand doses to military and civilian beneficiaries. The distinctive accomplishments of Staff Sergeant Mitchell reflect great credit upon herself, the 66th Medical Squadron and the United States Air Force.
Senior Airman Margaret A. West distinguished herself by meritorious service while serving as Medical Laboratory Technician, 633d Medical Support Squadron, 633d Medical Group, 633d Air Base Wing, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia. During this period, Senior Airman West meticulously led the Transfusion Services department by verifying 1.2 million dollars in equipment, reducing stagnant testing by thirty percent, and ensuring the department received zero inspection errors from the American Association of Blood Banks and College of American Pathologists. Additionally, she was selected to fortify pandemic operations by leading the night shift team at the Air Force's sole reference laboratory, testing over 215,000 COIVD-19 samples and supporting 76 Medical Treatment Facilities serving a population of more than 2.5 million. Moreover, she mastered pandemic operations by processing eight hundred deployers, supporting four Aerial Port of Embarkation missions, expanding testing capabilities by three hundred percent, and expediting 30,000 test kits in support of the Air Force Global Strike Command's nuclear defense operations. Finally, her dedication was further showcased as her pandemic response team was coined by the Air Combat Command's Surgeon General. The distinctive accomplishments of Staff Sergeant West reflect great credit upon herself, the 633d Medical Support Squadron, and the United States Air Force.
Staff Sergeant Charles A. Aceves distinguished himself by meritorious service while serving as Lab Technician, 99th Medical Support Squadron, 99th Medical Group, 99th Air Base Wing, Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada from XXXXXXXXX to XXXXXXXXXX. During this period, Sergeant Aceves bolstered Air Combat Command's largest lab by collecting over 80,000 samples with a ninety-nine percent patient satisfaction rate, contributing to the Mike O'Callaghan Federal Medical Center being awarded the Air Force Surgeon General's "Hospital of the Year" award. Additionally, while deployed in support of contingency operations, Sergeant Aceves led his Forward Operating Base's COVID 19 response, securing over five thousand test kits, developing protocols, and procuring an analyzer. His actions ensured the safety of more than three thousand warfighters and sustained combat operations, supporting over 4,000 combat sorties. His efficient process balanced requirements and resources and became the standard which was adopted by all Central Command units. Finally, Sergeant Aceves' leadership and dedication to duty was recognized by his nomination for the Air Force's "Laboratory Airman of the Year" award. The distinctive accomplishments of Staff Sergeant Aceves reflect great credit upon himself, the 99th Medical Support Squadron, and the United States Air Force.