SecAF presents first Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medals

by Kate Blais
Air Force Global Strike Command

11/5/2014 - BOSSIER CITY, La. -- Secretary of the Air Force Deborah Lee James presented the Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal for the first time ever to 25 Airmen during Air Force Global Strike Command's 2014 Global Strike Challenge, Nov. 5.

James approved the NDOSM in May with the intent of recognizing Airmen for their contributions to the nation's strategic objectives in nuclear deterrence. She presented the medals after her speech during day two of the symposium, held at the Bossier Civic Center, Bossier City, Louisiana.

During her speech, James said she has visited 49 bases around the world in her first 10 months as Secretary of the Air Force, but there are a few specific locations that stick with her.

"I've had a special place in my heart - and in my travel plans - for our Air Force Global Strike bases since almost my first day on the job," James said. "This week's challenge demonstrates your dedication, skill, and passion for the mission...the same passion and skill I saw when I visited your bases earlier this year. There is no mission more important to our nation's security than the nuclear mission."

Addressing a crowd of 800 GSC competitors, Airmen and symposium attendees, James talked about perseverance and facing adversity. Like in any endeavor, success doesn't come easy--it's what comes after that's important, she said.

"The example you've set over the last year shows Airmen across the service - in the Combat Air Forces, the Mobility Air Forces, in Space and Cyberspace - that overcoming adversity really is a step on the path to success," James continued.

In recognition of AFGSC Airmen and their exceptional contributions to national defense, 25 NDOSMs were awarded, with the remainder to follow in the spring.

"I am very honored and feel privileged to receive this award because I really love being in missiles," said Staff Sgt. Amber Moore, a missile chef in the 341st Missile Wing at Malmstrom AFB, Montana. "It's been nothing but an honor serving with maintenance teams, missileers and the cops as well. This is a huge deal for me."

In the mind of one Airman, the new medal is one part of a larger effort to affect change within the nuclear enterprise culture.

"It's exciting. It's one of the steps in creating a new culture among missileers and anyone associated with missiles, reinvigorating our mission and what we do for America," said 1st Lt. Carolyn Hockaday, a missile combat crew commander, 490th Missile Squadron, also at Malmstrom AFB. "Without us and the rest of the triad, America wouldn't be as safe."

Medal recipients represented a variety of career fields eligible to receive the decoration.

The following Airmen, who represent the active duty, Air National Guard and Reserve forces, received the first medals:

From Minot AFB, North Dakota

· From Jacksonville, Florida, 1st Lt. Victoria Fort, instructor combat crew, representing nuclear and missile operations, 91st Missile Wing

· From Woodland, California, Staff Sgt. Brett Jordan, B-52 dedicated crew chief, representing bomber crew chiefs, 5th Bomb Wing

· Airman 1st Class Robert Cook, maps technician, representing missile and space system maintenance, 91st Missile Wing

· From Eva Beach, Hawaii, Staff Sgt. Kamuela Kalilikane, facility maintenance team training instructor, representing missile and space facilities, 91st Missile Wing

· From Parker's Prairie, Minnesota, Tech. Sgt. Matthew Westad, group facility maintenance instructor, representing facility managers, 91st Missile Wing

· From Springfield, Georgia, Capt. Clyde Vickery, chief of standardization and evaluation, representing rescue pilots, 91st Missile Wing

From F.E. Warren AFB, Wyoming

· From Lone Oak, Texas, Capt. Dan Cook, ICBM combat crew commander, nuclear and missile operations, 90th  Missile Wing

· From Colorado Springs, Colorado, Capt. David Skelly, aircraft commander, representing rescue pilots, 90th Missile Wing

· From Mililani, Hawaii, Airman Riley Borges, response force member, representing security forces, 90th Missile Wing

· From Cincinnati, Ohio, Airman 1st Class Joseph Tucker, maps technician, representing missile and space system maintenance, 90th Missile Wing

From Malmstrom AFB, Montana

· From Lubbock, Texas, 1st Lt. Carolyn Hockaday, OSS instructor, representing nuclear and missile operations, 341st Missile Wing

· From Hopkinsville, Kentucky, Tech. Sgt. Christopher Zachary, EMT quality assurance evaluator, representing missile and space systems electronic maintenance, 341st Missile Wing

· From Philadelphia, Pennsylvannia, Staff Sgt. Amber Moore, representing missile chefs, 341st Missile Wing

· From Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Airman 1st Class Andrew Matthews, nuclear weapons technician, representing nuclear weapons career field, 341st Missile Wing

· From Philadelphia, Pennsylvannia, Staff Sgt. Bob Kohlenberg, instructor flight engineer/scheduling non-commissioned officer, representing special mission aviation, 341st Missile Wing

From Whiteman AFB, Missouri

· From Columbus, Ohio, Airman 1st Class Jeremiah Neer, weapons maintenance team member, representing nuclear weapons career field, 509th Bomb Wing

· From Knob Noster, Missouri, Staff Sgt. Cole Miller, command post controller, representing command post controllers, 131st Bomb Wing, Air National Guard

From Barksdale AFB, Louisiana

· From Dracut, Massachusetts, Capt. Mehul Brahmbhatt, executive officer, representing bomber navigators, 2nd Bomb Wing

· Clymer, New York, Tech. Sgt. Erin Bernik, squadron lead crew member, 2 man, representing aircraft armament, 307th Bomb Wing, Air Force Reserves

· From Shippensburg, Pennsylvannia, Staff Sgt. Nicole Cowles, PRP medical records technician, representing medical support staff, 2nd Bomb Wing

· From Pascagoula, Mississippi, Tech. Sgt. Jessica Chebaro, strategic logistics planner, representing logistic planners, 608th Strategic Operations Squadron, Eighth Air Force

· From Mabank, Texas, Master Sgt. Janie Rodriguez, Non-Commissioned Officer In-Charge, security forces training and stan eval, representing security forces, Air Force Global Strike Command

· From Cottondale, Florida, Tech. Sgt. Crystal Velez-Greenhill, quality assurance manager, representing financial management and comptroller, Air Force Global Strike Command

· From Homerville, Georgia, Staff Sgt. Giavonia Fields, Non-Commissioned Officer In-Charge, headquarters Air Force Global Strike Command commander support staff, representing personnel

· From San Antonio, Texas, Maj. Raymundo Vann, nuclear and missile operations lead, representing nuclear and missile operations, Air Force Global Strike Command

This medal is awarded in recognition of the special trust and responsibility placed upon AFGSC Airmen as they perform nuclear deterrence operations, providing safe, secure and effective deterrence for our nation, with the most powerful weapons in our nation's arsenal.