Optometry Awards
Ophthalmic Technician
Master Sergeant Joseph Maertz distinguished himself by meritorious service while serving as Opthalmic Technician, 442d Medical Squadron, 442d Fighter Wing, Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri. During this period, Sergeant Maertz assisted in the examination of more than 200 wing members deployed in support of OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM with zero discrepancies found in the AOR. Additionally, while mentoring staff members, he developed a study guide for the American Optometric Association national certification test which increased Airman confidence and participation. Moreover, he developed new gas mask inserts which were adopted for use by all Air Force members who wear glasses. Finally, Sergeant Maertz graduated with the highest grade in the history of the ophthalmic technical school and became an approved lecturer for the Armed Forces Optometric Society. The distinctive accomplishments of Master Sergeant Maertz reflect credit upon himself, the 442d Medical Squadron and the United States Air Force.
Staff Sergeant Drew T. Murphy distinguished himself by meritorious service while serving as Ophthalmic Technician, 42nd Operational Medical Readiness Squadron, 42nd Medical Group, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama. During this period, Sergeant Murphy managed the Air Force Corneal Refractive Surgery Program at Maxwell Air Force Base and performed over ten thousand surgical tests, providing over 2.6 million dollars in care and services. In addition, he revised the refractive surgery package transmittal process and eliminated over fifty percent of redundant steps, saving 96 man hours per year. Moreover, he revised the refractive surgery scheduling process, enabling the addition of 52 more appointments per year. Further, as contact lens inventory manager, he negotiated an increase in contact lens stock by one hundred percent from the vendor, enabling two million dollars in patient services at no cost to the Air Force. Finally, while serving as equipment custodian, he procured and provided ophthalmic supplies for two Peruvian and one Belize Air Force medical readiness missions resulting in over four million dollars in services rendered. The distinctive accomplishments of Staff Sergeant Murphy reflect credit upon himself, the 42nd Operational Medical Readiness Squadron, and the United States Air Force.
Technical Sergeant James D. Romero distinguished himself by meritorious service while serving as Ophthalmic Technician, 88th Aerospace Medicine Squadron, 88th Medical Group, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. During this period, Sergeant Romero served as Flight Chief during a fifty percent manning shortage and still managed to provide manning assistance for Hanscom Air Force Base, which had no technicians at all. As Ophthalmic Technician, he examined members, adjusted spectacles, and ordered gas mask and ballistic inserts for all active duty members, ensuring medical mission readiness. Additionally, he created an optometry reference checklist now used by 90 clinics and 150 optometrists Air Force wide. Moreover, he completed his 4V training goals, and earned the 5-level upgrade, certified para-optometric, and 7-level upgrade in less than a year. Finally, Sergeant Romero's actions directly contributed to the flight garnering numerous awards including the MDG Team of the Quarter and Squadron Team of the Quarter. The distinctive accomplishments of Technical Sergeant Romero reflect credit upon himself, the 88th Aerospace Medicine Squadron and the United States Air Force.
Staff Sergeant Luke P. Denoto distinguished himself by meritorious service while serving as Ophthalmic Technician, 15th Aerospace Medicine Squadron, 15th Airlift Wing, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii. During this period, Sergeant Denoto meticulously evaluated more than 1,300 Optometry patients, ordered over 3,400 pairs of glasses, and provided $29,000 in healthcare services. In addition, he oversaw the Aircrew Soft Contact Lens program which supported 61 members and increased the compliance rate from seventy to one hundred percent, improving visual readiness exponentially. Further, Sergeant Denoto created a refractive surgery database, and identified and corrected 11 discrepancies which were vital to the Medical Group's Health Services Inspection "Excellent" rating. Finally, Sergeant Denoto's drive and determination contributed immeasurably to the Optometry Clinic earning the Air Force Medical Services Biomedical Sciences Corporation Category I Team of the Year award. The distinctive accomplishments of Staff Sergeant Denoto reflect credit upon himself, the 15th Aerospace Medicine Squadron, and the United States Air Force.
Technical Sergeant Angela R. Jenkins distinguished herself by meritorious service while serving as Optometry Technician, 181st Medical Group, 181st Intelligence Wing, Terre Haute Air National Guard Base, Indiana. During this period, as part of a two-member optometry team, she provided more than eight thousand dollars of quality eye care each day. She consistently prepared the exam room every morning and saw patients during demanding twelve hour shifts. In addition, her outstanding efforts greatly contributed to over eight hundred and sixty thousand dollars of care provided for sixteen hundred patients during Operation Arctic Care, the most produced in twelve years. The distinctive accomplishments of Technical Sergeant Jenkins reflect credit upon herself, the 181st Medical Group and the United States Air Force.
NCOIC, Optometry Clinic
Technical Sergeant Jenna L. Mermet distinguished herself by meritorious service while serving as NCOIC, Optometry Clinic, 142nd Medical Group, 142nd Fighter Wing, Portland Oregon Air National Guard Base, Oregon. During this period, the professional skill, leadership, and ceaseless efforts of Technical Sergeant Mermet contributed to the effectiveness and success of the 142nd Medical Group. She provided critical technical support to the organization by timely management of more then three hundred physicals and eye exams, ensuring deployment readiness for all 142nd Fighter Wing members. Additionally, her efforts resulted in significant contributions to the success of a recent Health Services Inspection, facilitating a score of Excellent. Finally, she encouraged a high level of cooperative teamwork and continuous improvement for all technicians within the optometry clinic, improving morale and Airman confidence. The distinctive accomplishments of Technical Sergeant Mermet reflect credit upon herself, the 142nd Medical Group, and the United States Air Force.
Technical Sergeant Karen Mansfield distinguished herself by meritorious service while serving as Optometry NCOIC, 302nd Aeromedical Staging Squadron, 302nd Airlift Wing, Peterson Space Force Base, Colorado. During this period, Sergeant Mansfield screened over 2,000 patients, recorded vision refractive errors, provided corrective scripts during peacetime, and provided deployment support to Wing members for 120 days. In addition, as records custodian, she reorganized all OJT records and developed a relevant Master Training Plan for her duty section, resulting in uniformity, standardization, and effectiveness, ensuring a satisfactory rating during Health Services Inspection. Moreover, she conducted mission critical training and task recertification for over 50 unit personnel, eliminating deficiencies and ensuring compliance with inspection standards. Finally, she volunteered for humanitarian missions to Mozambique, Africa, Belize, Central America, and Guyana, South America, serving the optometric needs of more than 3,000 indigenous people. The distinctive accomplishments of Technical Sergeant Mansfield reflect credit upon herself, the 302nd Aeromedical Staging Squadron and the United States Air Force.
Staff Sergeant Richard C. Hernandez distinguished himself by meritorious service while serving as Noncommissioned Officer in Charge, Optometry Element, 51st Aerospace Medicine Squadron, 51st Medical Group, 51st Fighter Wing, Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea. During this period, as the only NCOIC for both Osan and Kunsan Air Base Optometry, Sergeant Hernandez supported two Wings, five flying squadrons and delivered 1,356 ophthalmic exams, resulting in the sustainment of operations and $370,000 in medical services. Additionally, during three Operational Readiness Exercises, he conducted In Place Patient Decontamination demonstrations for 64 DoD leaders, increasing confidence in medical readiness. Finally while partnered with Public Health, he raised Osan Air Base's medical equipment readiness rate from ninety to ninety nine percent, the highest rate in PACAF. The distinctive accomplishments of Sergeant Hernandez reflect credit upon himself, the 51st Aerospace Medicine Squadron and the United States Air Force.
Optometry Flight Commander
Major Maria D. Lopez distinguished herself in the performance of outstanding service to the United States as Optometry Flight Commander, 375th Aerospace Medical Squadron, 375th Medical Group, 375th Air Mobility Wing, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. During this period, Major Lopez managed daily operations of the Optometry Clinic where she treated 5,200 patients and oversaw $1.1 million in services. She also overaw more than 10,000 ophthalmic mobility requirements, ensuring that 3,800 Airmen were deployment ready. Additionally, she managed the Air Mobility Wing Aircrew Contact Lens Program, ensuring 89 aircrew members were equipped for optimum performance with no impairment of flight operations. Furthermore, she served as the Group's inspection team chief, advising the Wing on exercises and inspections, and contributing to the Group's three year Joint Commission accreditation. Finally, Major Lopez's clinical and managerial ability led to her being awarded Air Mobility Command Biomedical Clinician Category I Field Grade Officer of the Year and Department of Defense Armed Forces Optometric Society Junior Optometrist of the Year. The singularly distinctive accomplishments of Major Lopez reflect great credit upon herself, the 375th Aerospace Medical Squadron and the United States Air Force.
Major Gabriel J. Alvarado distinguished himself my meritorious service while serving as Optometry Officer In Charge, 926th Aerospace Medicine Squadron, 926th Operations Group, Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada. During this period, Major Alvarado made major contributions to the effectiveness and success of Air Force Individual Medical Readiness. He spearheaded the development of the optometry program for the newly formed 926th Aerospace Medicine Flight, and developed programs and processes to ensure optometric standards compliance and medical readiness for a Reserve population of over 700 personnel, including 200 aviators. During the unit's rapid growth into a full squadron, his tireless efforts have sustained 100% compliance with the Aircrew Soft Contact Lens Program by screening as many as 30 patients a day. Additionally, Major Alvarado led the specification and equipping of a dedicated Air Force Reserve Optometry workspace within the Flight Medicine clinic, eliminating the need for members to travel across the base for optometry screening and streamlining the PHA process. Finally, he assumed oversight of the Infection Control Program, a major Health Services Inspection focus element. The distinctive accomplishments of Major Alvarado reflect credit upon himself, the 926th Aerospace Medicine Squadron, and the United States Air Force.
Staff Optometrist
Lieutenant Colonel David F. Wilborn distinguished himself by outstanding achievement while serving as Staff Optometrist, 45th Aerospace Medicine Squadron, 45th Medical Group, 45th Space Wing, Patrick Air Force Base, Florida. During this period, Lieutenant Colonel Wilborn led reserve optometry production at Patrick Air Force Base for three consecutive years and was critical in boosting production from fifty one to one hundred percent of goal during a short-notice backfill. In addition, he led a vision service team during Operation Arctic Care that was instrumental in driving total ophthalmic services to the largest production in 12 years. Further, by facilitating an Air Force first Front Range DCO Combined Training Assembly (CTA), he averted a CTA sequester shutdown for over 90 Individual Mobilization Augmentees. The distinctive accomplishments of Lieutenant Colonel Wilborn reflect credit upon himself, the 45th Aerospace Medicine Squadron, and the United States Air Force.
Major Benjamin N. Emmons distinguished himself by outstanding achievement while assigned to the 375th Operational Medicine Readiness Squadron, 375th Medical Group, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. During this period, Major Emmons deployed to Haiti as a member of Task Force Bon Voizen during Operation New Horizon from 23 May 2011 to 8 June 2011. He served as a member of a 24-man medical team that provided care to over 7,500 patients in Bocozelle, Haiti during a two week Medical Readiness Training Exercise. As the ophthalmic team lead, Major Emmons directed three providers, two translators, and two ophthalmic technicians while dispensing more than two thousand spectacles and almost one thousand medications. His team examined over 1,500 patients and performed 21 minor surgical procedures and referred 13 high risk patients to higher echelon surgical care. The distinctive accomplishments of Major Emmons reflect credit upon himself, the 375th Operational Medicine Readiness Squadron and the United States Air Force.