673d ABW Airmen, civilians recognized at JBER ceremony

by Air Force Staff Sgt. William Banton
JBER Public Affairs

2/19/2015 - JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaksa -- Airmen from the 673d Air Base Wing gathered to honor the 2014 Annual Award winners during a ceremony at the Arctic Warrior Events Center on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson Feb. 13.

The awards recognized the Airmen and civilians who demonstrated superior leadership, job performance, community involvement and personal achievements during 2014.

"To all the award nominees, you are truly the best of the best," said Air Force Col. Brian Bruckbauer, JBER and 673d Air Base Wing commander. "We have around 5,000 warriors - civilians and military members - in the air base wing.

"This is a huge wing; it towers over most wings by at least a factor of two or three. The fact that you were all recognized tonight as nominees says a lot about you."

The award winners included Airman of the Year Senior Airman Sheena Ross, 673d ABW Office of the Staff Judge Advocate; Noncommissioned Officer of the Year, Staff Sgt. Robert Lake, 673d Communications Squadron; Senior NCO of the Year, Master Sgt. Chad Smith, 673d Logistics Readiness Squadron; Company Grade Officer of the Year, Capt. Trenton Reeves, 773d Civil Engineer Squadron; First Sergeant of the Year, Master Sgt. Robert Chastain, 673d Communications Squadron; Civilian of the Year, Category I, Mr. Karl Schultz,
673d CES; Civilian of the Year, Category II,  Mr. Duane Leventry, 673d Security Forces Squadron; Civilian of the Year, Category III, Mr. Lance Davis, 773d CES; Civilian of the Year, Category IV, Mr. Leon Sutton, 673d LRS; Honor Guardsman of the Year,  Staff Sgt. Jordan Hayes, 703d Aircraft Maintenance Squadron and the Base Honor Guard Program Manager, Staff Sgt. Eduardo Peguero, 673d Force Support Squadron.

Bruckbauer said the accomplishments of the wing's Airmen are evident in the accolades from obtained outside the wing.

"The fact that we have won so many awards at the 11th Air Force, Pacific Air Forces and Air Force [levels] is just incredible, and is a testament to the hard work and professionalism in what you do every day in this wing," he said. "It makes me so proud to be working with you each and every day; well done.

"One award I was very proud to see come in, just tonight, was the 673d ABW [being] selected for the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award," he said.