Lance P. Sijan Awards Breakfast

U.S. Air Force Col. John Cherrey, 355th Fighter Wing commander, and Chief Master Sgt. Vincent Howard, 355th Fighter Wing command chief, stand with award winners at the Lance P. Sijan Leadership Awards breakfast held at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz. The Lance P. Sijan Leadership Award was created in 1981 to recognize individuals who have demonstrated the highest qualities of leadership in their jobs and in their lives. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Brittany Dowdle)

Exceptional DLT leaders receive awards

Published July 12, 2011
By Airman 1st Class Saphfire D. Cook
355th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

DAVIS-MONTHAN AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. -- Four Airmen were recognized for their notable leadership skills at the Lance P. Sijan Leadership Awards breakfast held at the Mirage Club here July 7.

The Lance P. Sijan Leadership Award, named after an Air Force lieutenant who served during the Vietnam War, has been presented to Airmen in recognition of their leadership skills for 30 years.

"To me, this award recognizes those who epitomize the highest of leadership qualities that we as a military service seek in all of our members," said Master Sgt. John Brown, 41st Electronic Combat Squadron first sergeant, and the coordinator of the awards breakfast. "When the opportunity to coordinate this for the first time on D-M presented itself, I jumped on the chance to recognize outstanding commissioned and enlisted personnel."

Maj. Joseph Stangl, 355th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Capt. Anndrea Carter, 355th Component Maintenance Squadron, Master Sgt. David Austin, 355th Civil Engineering Squadron, and Technical Sgt. Carrie Nunez, 355th Mission Support Group, won the awards for the senior officer, junior officer, senior enlisted and junior enlisted categories, respectively.

"It's an amazing feeling to win this award at this level, especially after reading about previous winners and the things they have accomplished," said Sergeant Nunez, non-commissioned officer-in-charge of the First Term Airmen Center.

First Lieutenant Lance P. Sijan was an F-4 Phantom pilot flying a mission over North Vietnam when he was forced to eject from his aircraft due to premature detonation of bomb fuses. Suffering numerous ejection-related injuries, Lieutenant Sijan evaded capture for 46 days. The Air Force created a leadership award in his name to honor his bravery and the sacrifices he made for his country.