'Best of the Best' Recognized at 2009 Desert Lightning Team's Annual Awards Ceremony

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DAVIS-MONTHAN AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  The Desert Lightning Team's First Sergeants Council presented Operation Excellence "Best of the Best 2009" at the Mirage Club here Jan. 30.

The ceremony honored 83 award nominees in nine categories and announced the recipients for each award. More than 350 people attended the dinner-time event.

The Desert Lightning Team awards encompassed both the 355th Fighter Wing and all associated units. The nominees and award winners were:

Airman of the Year: Senior Airman Philip Accord, 355th Mission Support Group
Nominees: Staff Sgt. Dustin Kuuttila, 355th Operations Group; Airman 1st Class Alvaro Garcia, 355th Maintenance Group; Senior Airman Samantha Hilton, 355th Medical Group; Senior Airman Fawn Lawrence, 355th Fighter Wing staff; Senior Airman Kyle Parton, Headquarters 12th Air Force
Staff Sgt. Brent Moore, 48th Rescue Squadron; Senior Airman Kayla Hutton, 755th Operations Support Squadron; Airman 1st Class Amy Welsh, 25th Operational Weather squadron; Airman 1st Class Amy Wright, 563rd Maintenance Squadron

Noncommissioned Officer of the Year: Tech. Sgt. Christopher Johnson, 355th Fighter Wing staff
Nominees: Tech. Sgt. Kevin Cozad, 355th Operations Group; Tech. Sgt. Tiffany Naylor, 355th Maintenance Group; Tech. Sgt. Charles Criswell, 355th Mission Support Group; Staff Sgt. Diana Habel, 355th Medical Group; Tech. Sgt. Adam Rodriguez, 755th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron; Tech. Sgt. Ryan Thuyns, 612th Air Communications Squadron; Tech. Sgt. Konrad Schwinn, 48th Rescue Squadron; Tech. Sgt. Annette Sanders, 25th Operational Weather Squadron; Tech. Sgt. Joseph Herrera, 563rd Maintenance Squadron; Tech. Sgt. Case Armsey, 372nd Training Squadron

Senior Noncommissioned Officer of the Year: Senior Master Sgt. Deanna Croxen, Headquarters 12th Air Force
Nominees: Senior Master Sgt. Michael Murdock, 355th Operations Group; Master Sgt. James Wright, 355th Maintenance Group; Master Sgt. Carl Rhea, 355th Mission Support Group; Master Sgt. Brian McComb, 355th Medical Group; Master Sgt. Kimberly Villanueva, 355th Fighter Wing staff; Senior Master Sgt. Deanna Croxen, Headquarters 12th Air Force; Master Sgt. Katrece Moore, 42nd Electronic Combat Squadron; Senior Master Sgt. David Swan, 48th Rescue Squadron; Master Sgt. Scott Maier, 25th Operational Weather Squadron; Senior Master Sgt. Stephen Humbert, 563rd Maintenance Squadron
Master Sgt. Glen Caron, 372nd Training Squadron


Honor Guard Airman of the Year: Staff Sgt. Steven Rodriguez, 612th Air Operations Center
Nominees: Airman 1st Class Justin Woodard, 355th Equipment Maintenance Squadron; Airman 1st Class Daniel Etzkorn, 355th Component Maintenance Squadron

Junior Civilian of the Year: Ms. Natasha Patterson, 355th MDG
Nominees: Mr. Wynell Frame, 355th Maintenance Group; Ms. Deborah Hodge, 355th Mission Support Group; Ms. Tia Locklear, 355th Fighter Wing staff; Ms. Ruby Johnson, Headquarters 12th Air Force
Ms. Michelle Livingston, 55th ECG; Mr. Bernard Oliver, 309th AMARG

Intermediate Civilian of the Year: Mr. Jeffrey Braddock, 42nd Electronic Combat Squadron
Nominees: Mr. Matthew Lawrence, 355th Operations Support Squadron; Mr. Manuel Portela, 355th Mission Support Group; Ms. Liz Rivera, 355th Fighter Wing staff; Ms. Teresa DeCoste, Headquarters 12th Air Force; Ms. Maria Pasamante, 563rd Operations Support Squadron; Ms. Melissa Strosky, 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group

Senior Civilian of the Year: Ms. Carrie Graue, Headquarters 12th Air Force
Nominees: Mr. David Bellamy, 355th Operations Group; Mr. Michael Kovacich, 355th Maintenance Group; Mr. Brent Brinson, 355th Mission Support Group; Ms. Donna Wilson, 355th Medical Group; Ms. Cathleen Harrison, 355th Fighter Wing staff; Ms. Judy Gallmeister, 55th Electronic Combat Group; Mr. Todd Putnam, 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group; Mr. Daniel Kinsey, 563rd Maintenance Squadron

Company Grade Officer of the Year: Capt. James Christensen, 355th Operations Group
Nominees: Capt. David Flowers, 355th Maintenance Group; Capt. Colin Lennon, 355th Mission Support Group; Capt. Stacey Brown, 355th Medical Group; Capt. Morgan Crowder, 355th Fighter Wing staff; Capt. Brandon Sokora, Headquarters 12th Air Force; Capt. John Barry, 563rd Maintenance Squadron; Capt. Bobby Buckner, 755th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron; Capt. Anthony Lesmes, 48th Rescue Squadron; Capt. Timothy Villaran, 25th Operational Weather Squadron

Field Grade Officer of the Year: Maj. Lance Benson, 43rd Electronic Combat Squadron
Nominees: Maj. Lawrence Evert, 355th Operations Group; Maj. Carey Miller, 355th Mission Support Group; Maj. Jeffrey Autrey, 355th Medical Group; Maj. Joseph Rucker, 355th Fighter Wing staff; Maj. Rudy Cardona, Headquarters 12th Air Force; Maj. Matthew McGuire, 55th Rescue Squadron; Maj. Chad Holt, 563rd Maintenance Squadron

First Sergeants of the Year: Master Sgt. Harry Nichols, 355th Operations Group
Nominees: Master Sgt. Stuart Lee, 355th Maintenance Group; Master Sgt. Brent Consbruck, 355thMission Support Group; Master Sgt. Daniel Guzman, Headquarters 12th Air Force; Master Sgt. Betsi Kelts, 41st Electronic Combat Squadron; Master Sgt. Virginia Storm, 563rd Maintenance Grou