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	{{Infobox military person		{{Infobox military person
	\|name=Ramón Colón-López		\|name = Ramón Colón-López
	\|birth_date= {{Birth date\|1971\|10\|21}}		\|birth_date = {{Birth date\|1971\|10\|21}}
	\|death_date=		\|death_date =
	\|birth_place= ]		\|birth_place = ]
	\|death_place=		\|death_place =
	\|placeofburial=		\|placeofburial=
	\|placeofburial_label= Place of burial		\|placeofburial_label= Place of burial
	\|image=CMSgt Colon Lopez.jpg		\|image = CMSgt Colon Lopez.jpg
	\|image_size=250		\|image_size = 250
	\|caption=Chief Master Sergeant Ramon Colon-Lopez<br /><small>The first Hispanic recipient of the Air Force Combat Action Medal.</small>		\|caption = Chief Master Sergeant Ramon Colon-Lopez<br /><small>The first Hispanic recipient of the Air Force Combat Action Medal.</small>
	\|nickname=		\|nickname =
	\|~~allegiance~~={{~~flagicon~~\|United States}} ]		\|branch = {{air force\|United States}}
		⚫	\|serviceyears = 1990–present
	\|branch= ] ]
		⚫	\|rank = ] ]
⚫	\|serviceyears= 1990–present
		⚫	\|commands = Command Chief Master Sergeant of the ]<br />Command Chief Master Sergeant of the ]<br />Commandant of the Pararescue and Combat Rescue Officer School
⚫	\|rank=] ]
		⚫	\|battles = ]<br />]<br />]<br />]<br />]
⚫	\|commands=Command Chief Master Sergeant of the ]<br />Command Chief Master Sergeant of the ]<br />Commandant of the Pararescue and Combat Rescue Officer School
			\|awards = ]
	\|unit=
⚫	\|battles=]<br />]<br />]<br />]<br />]
	\|awards= ]<br />]w/ Valor and oak leaf cluster<br />] <br />] w/ oak leaf cluster<br />] w/ oak leaf cluster
	}}		}}
	] '''Ramón Colón-López''' <ref group=note>{{Spanish name\|'''Colón'''\|'''López'''}}</ref> (born: October 21, 1971) is a ] with the ]. In 2007 he was the only Hispanic amongst the first six airmen to be awarded the newly created ]. He is currently the ] of the ] ].		] '''Ramón Colón-López''' <ref group=note>{{Spanish name\|'''Colón'''\|'''López'''}}</ref> (born: October 21, 1971) is a ] with the ]. In 2007 he was the only Hispanic amongst the first six airmen to be awarded the newly created ]. He is currently the ] of the ] ].

	==Early ~~years~~==		==Early life and family==
	Colón-López was born in the ~~City~~ of ],<ref>{{cite web \|url=http://www.hurlburt.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123282027 \|title=1st SOW welcomes new command chief \|date=12/2/2011 \|accessdate=January 14, 2013}}</ref> located in the southern coast of the island. His family moved to ] and in 1989, he graduated from Kolbe Cathedral High School. Colón-López wanted to pursue a degree in the field of biology and attended ]. However, after two semesters in December 1990, he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and trained as a Transportation Specialist ~~after completing his ]~~. ~~He served as a Transportation Specialist during the ].<ref name="NAFM"></ref>~~		Colón-López was born to Vilma and Ramon Colon-Torres<ref name="goefoundation1">{{cite web\|url=http://www.goefoundation.com/index.php/eagles/biographies/c/col-n-l-pez-ram-n/ \|title=Gathering of Eagles Foundation :: Colón-López, Ramón \|publisher=Goefoundation.com \|date= \|accessdate=June 8, 2013}}</ref> in the city of ],<ref>{{cite web \|url=http://www.hurlburt.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123282027 \|title=1st SOW welcomes new command chief \|date=12/2/2011 \|accessdate=January 14, 2013}}</ref><ref name="goefoundation1"/> located in the southern coast of the island. His family moved to ] and in 1989, he graduated from Kolbe Cathedral High School. Colón-López wanted to pursue a degree in the field of biology and attended ]. However, after two semesters in December 1990, he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and trained as a Transportation Specialist.

			He is married to Janet K. McCaskill of ].
	==Pararescueman==

			==Military career==
			Shortly after enlisting in the Air Force in 1990 he served as a Transportation Specialist during the ].<ref name="NAFM">{{cite web\|url=http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=15998 \|title=Factsheets : Unknown Fact Sheet \|publisher=Nationalmuseum.af.mil \|date= \|accessdate=June 8, 2013}}</ref> In 1994, he volunteered for Pararescue duty training and completed his training in 1996 with 12 of his original 113 PJ candidates.<ref name="goefoundation1"/><ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.kadena.af.mil/library/biographies/bio.asp?id=16383 \|title=Biographies : Chief Master Sergeant Ramon Colon-Lopez \|publisher=Kadena.af.mil \|date= \|accessdate=June 8, 2013}}</ref> After completing the PJ "pipeline" he was assigned to the ] out of ], ]. While a member of the 48th RQS he participated in various assignments, among which were ] and ] as Combat Search and Rescue Team Leader. He left the 48th RQS in January 1999 to join the ], located at ], ].<ref name="goefoundation1"/>

			===24th Special Tactics Squadron===
	]		]
		⚫	From 1999 to 2005 Colón-López was a member of the ] as a Special Tactics Element Leader.<ref name="kadenamil">{{cite web\|url=http://www.kadena.af.mil/library/biographies/bio.asp?id=16383 \|title=USAF Biography: Chief Master Sergeant Ramon Colon-Lopez \|date=Jan 2013 \|accessdate=May 1, 2013}}</ref> While a member of the 24th STS, from July 2002 to September 2004, Colón-López was deployed four times to ] during ]<ref name="goefoundation1"/> as part of a joint task force to several classified locations in support of ] in ]. While deployed he participated in a series of joint operations, including direct assaults and ] missions. During this time he also protected future Afghanistan president, ], and received his first ] with ] for his actions under fire while supporting Karzai's security detail.<ref name="goefoundation1"/><ref>{{cite web \|url=http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=13586 \|title=HUNTING THE TERRORISTS DOWN: SMSGT. RAMON COLON-LOPEZ \|date=4/21/2009 \|accessdate=January 14, 2013}}</ref> His second Bronze Star Medal was for his actions after his helicopter was shot down during a mission in Afghanistan. After the helicopter crash landed two ]s and Colón-López assaulted fortified enemy positions, killing five combatants and ensuring the safety of the remaining crew.<ref name="goefoundation1"/> He was selected to create and implement the unit's compartments Personnel Recovery Advance Force Operations team, which serviced the entire Joint Special Operations arena.<ref name="NAFM"/>
	In 1994, he volunteered for Pararescue duty training and completed his training in 1996. ] are ] (AFSOC) and ] (ACC) operatives tasked with recovery and medical treatment of personnel in humanitarian and combat environments. They are the only members of the ] specifically organized, trained and equipped to conduct personnel recovery operations in hostile or denied areas as a primary mission.<ref>{{cite web \|url=http://www2.afsoc.af.mil/library/afsocheritage/ \|title=Heritage of the Special Operations Professionals \|work=Air Force Special Operations Command \|publisher=United States Air Force \|accessdate=2008-12-07}}</ref>

		⚫	On March 11, 2004, Colón-López together with his Advance Force Operations Team and elements of the Afghan National Strike Unit, participated in an operation which required the capture of a high level target and a follow-on site exploitation with the intention of preventing the proliferation of chemical weapons. His helicopter drew hostile enemy fire yet Colón-López continued on his mission, which resulted in two enemy kills, the capture of 10 enemy troops and the destruction of multiple rocket propelled grenades and small caliber weapons.<ref name="DD">{{cite web\|url=http://www.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=46386 \|title=News Article: Air Force Awards First Combat Action Medals \|publisher=Defense.gov \|date= \|accessdate=June 8, 2013}}</ref> In January 2005, after Colón-López returned to the United States, he was named Superintendent of Training and later Commandant of the Pararescue and Combat Rescue Officer School.<ref name="NAFM"/><ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.pararescue.com/newsitem.aspx?id=525 \|title=News Archive - USAF PARARESCUE - That Others May Live \|publisher=Pararescue.com \|date=2006-10-07 \|accessdate=June 8, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web\|author=Staff Sgt. Monique Randolph \|url=http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?storyID=123056767 \|title=Airmen receive first AF Combat Action Medals \|publisher=Af.mil \|date= \|accessdate=16 January 2013}}</ref>

			===Later career===
⚫	He ~~participated~~ in ~~various~~ ~~assignments,~~ ~~among~~ ~~which~~ ~~were~~ ~~] and~~ ] as ~~Combat~~ ~~Search~~ ~~and Rescue~~ ~~Team~~ Leader. ~~From~~ July 2002 to September 2004, Colón-López was ~~again~~ deployed as part of a joint task force to several classified locations in support of ] in ] ~~where~~ he participated in a series of joint operations, including direct assaults and ] missions. During this time he also protected future Afghanistan president, ].<ref>{{cite web \|url=http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=13586 \|title=HUNTING THE TERRORISTS DOWN: SMSGT. RAMON COLON-LOPEZ \|date=4/21/2009 \|accessdate=January 14, 2013}}</ref> He was selected to create and implement the unit's compartments Personnel Recovery Advance Force Operations team, which serviced the entire Joint Special Operations arena.<ref name="NAFM"/>
		⚫	]
		⚫	On June 13, 2007, Colón-López became the first ], and one of the first six airmen, to be awarded the newly created ]. It was bestowed upon him by ] ] ] at the Air Force Memorial, in ].<ref name="SS">{{cite web\|author=Lisa Burgess \|url=http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=46650 \|title=Officials honor first recipients of Air Force Combat Action Medal - News \|publisher=Stripes \|date= \|accessdate=June 8, 2013}}</ref> The medal was created to recognize Air Force members who are engaged in air or ground combat "outside the wire" in combat zones. Airmen who are under direct and hostile fire, or who personally engaged hostile forces with direct and lethal fire are eligible to receive the award.<ref>, Air Force Print News, 4/9/2007</ref> The other five airmen to receive the award were Major Steve Raspet; Master Sgt. Byron P. Allen; Master Sgt. Charlie Peterson; Staff Sgt. Daniel Paxton; and Capt. Allison K. Black.<ref name="SS"/>

			After leaving the PJ/CRO Schoolhouse he returned to ] and the 24th Special Tactics Squadron as the unit's ] from April 2009 to April 2011.<ref name="kadenamil"/> After serving as the SEA for the 24th STS for two years he was then served as the inaugural Group Superintendent of the ] at Pope Field which was activated on 30 April 2011, however he only held the position for six months before becoming the ] of the ] at ] on November 30, 2011.<ref>{{cite web\|author=Michelle Vickers \|url=http://www2.hurlburt.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123286727 \|title=1st SOW Command Chief to Airmen: "Carnivores aren't content" \|publisher=.hurlburt.af.mil \|date=January 19, 2012 \|accessdate=June 8, 2013}}</ref> In January 2013 Colón-López was re-assigned to the 18th Wing at Kadena AB, Japan where he currently serves as the wing's Command Chief.
	==Air Force Combat Action Medal==
⚫	]
⚫	On March 11, 2004, Colón-López together with his Advance Force Operations Team and elements of the Afghan National Strike Unit, participated in an operation which required the capture of a high level target and a follow-on site exploitation with the intention of preventing the proliferation of chemical weapons. His helicopter drew hostile enemy fire yet Colón-López continued on his mission, which resulted in two enemy kills, the capture of 10 enemy troops and the destruction of multiple rocket propelled grenades and small caliber weapons.<ref name="DD"></ref> In January 2005, after Colón-López returned to the United States, he was named Superintendent of Training and later Commandant of the Pararescue and Combat Rescue Officer School.<ref name="NAFM"/><ref></ref><ref>{{cite web\|author=Staff Sgt. Monique Randolph \|url=http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?storyID=123056767 \|title=Airmen receive first AF Combat Action Medals \|publisher=Af.mil \|date= \|accessdate=16 January 2013}}</ref>

			]
⚫	On June 13, 2007, Colón-López became the first ], ~~amongst~~ the first six airmen, to be awarded the newly created Air Force Combat Action Medal, bestowed upon him by ] General ] at the Air Force Memorial, in ].<ref name="SS"></ref> The medal was created to recognize Air Force members who are engaged in air or ground combat "outside the wire" in combat zones. Airmen who are under direct and hostile fire, or who personally engaged hostile forces with direct and lethal fire are eligible to receive the award.<ref>, Air Force Print News, 4/9/2007</ref> The other five airmen to receive the award were Major Steve Raspet; Master Sgt. Byron P. Allen; Master Sgt. Charlie Peterson; Staff Sgt. Daniel Paxton; and Capt. Allison K. Black.<ref name="SS"/>
			A mannequin of Colón-López is featured at the ] located in ], in the museum's "Warrior Airmen" exhibit.<ref>http://www.armytimes.com/news/2009/01/ap_air_force_museum_011209/ news/2009/01/ap_air_force_museum_011209</ref><ref>{{cite web\|author=Sarah Swan \|url=http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123194881 \|title=Pararescueman to make special appearance at National Museum of the U.S. Air Force \|publisher=Nationalmuseum.af.mil \|date= \|accessdate=June 8, 2013}}</ref>

	==~~Later years~~==		==Assignments==
			# April 1991 - October 1992, Traffic Management Specialist, 7276 ABG, Iraklion AS, Crete, Greece
	Colón-López serves as the Command Chief, 18th Wing at Kadena AB, Japan. His military rank of Chief Master Sergeant (E-9), is the highest enlisted rank in the Air Force. He is married to the former Janet K. McCaskill of ]. Colón-López was featured at the ] located in ], in the museum's "Warrior Airmen" exhibit for his role in missions to capture or kill high value targets directly related to the recent terrorist attacks on U.S. soil and abroad.<ref></ref>
			# October 1992 - September 1994, Traffic Management Journeyman, 12th Tran SQ, Randolph AFB, TX
			# September 1994 - October 1996, Pararescue student, Det 1 342 TRS, Kirtland AFB, NM
			# October 1996 - February 1999, Pararescue Journeyman, 48th Rescue SQ, Holloman AFB, NM
			# February 1999 - January 2005, Special Tactics Element Leader, 24th STS, Pope AFB, NC
			# January 2005 - November 2006, Superintendent of Training/Chief Enlisted Manager, USAF PJ/CRO School, Kirtland AFB, NM
			# November 2006 - April 2009, Commandant, USAF PJ/CRO School, Kirtland AFB, NM
			# April 2009 - April 2011, Senior Enlisted Adviser, 24th Special Tactics SQ, Pope AFB, NC
			# April 2011 - November 2011, Group Superintendent, 724th Special Tactics Group, Pope AAF, NC
			# November 2011 - January 2013, Command Chief, 1st Special Operations Wing, Hurlburt Field, FL
			# January 2013 - Present, Command Chief, 18th Wing, Kadena AB, Japan

	==Awards and ~~decorations~~==		==Awards, decorations and honors==
	Among Colón-López' military decorations and badges are the following:<ref name="NAFM"/>		Among Colón-López' military decorations and badges are the following:<ref name="NAFM"/>
	{\|		{\|
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	==Notes==		==Notes==
	<references group=note/>		<references group=note/>

	==See also==		==See also==
	{{Portal\|Puerto Rico\|United States Air Force}}		{{Portal\|Puerto Rico\|United States Air Force}}

Revision as of 20:29, 8 June 2013

Ramón Colón-López
Chief Master Sergeant Ramon Colon-Lopez The first Hispanic recipient of the Air Force Combat Action Medal.
Born	(1971-10-21)October 21, 1971 Ponce, Puerto Rico
Service / branch	United States Air Force
Years of service	1990–present
Rank	Command Chief Master Sergeant
Commands	Command Chief Master Sergeant of the 18th Wing Command Chief Master Sergeant of the 1st Special Operations Wing Commandant of the Pararescue and Combat Rescue Officer School
Battles / wars	Gulf War Operation Southern Watch Operation Northern Watch Operation Enduring Freedom Operation Iraqi Freedom
Awards	See below

Chief Master Sergeant Ramón Colón-López (born: October 21, 1971) is a pararescueman with the U.S. Air Force. In 2007 he was the only Hispanic amongst the first six airmen to be awarded the newly created Air Force Combat Action Medal. He is currently the Command Chief of the 18th Wing Kadena AB, Japan.

Early life and family

Colón-López was born to Vilma and Ramon Colon-Torres in the city of Ponce, Puerto Rico, located in the southern coast of the island. His family moved to Bridgeport, Connecticut and in 1989, he graduated from Kolbe Cathedral High School. Colón-López wanted to pursue a degree in the field of biology and attended Sacred Heart University. However, after two semesters in December 1990, he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and trained as a Transportation Specialist.

He is married to Janet K. McCaskill of Seagrove, North Carolina.

Military career

Shortly after enlisting in the Air Force in 1990 he served as a Transportation Specialist during the Gulf War. In 1994, he volunteered for Pararescue duty training and completed his training in 1996 with 12 of his original 113 PJ candidates. After completing the PJ "pipeline" he was assigned to the 48th Rescue Squadron out of Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico. While a member of the 48th RQS he participated in various assignments, among which were Operation Southern Watch and Operation Northern Watch as Combat Search and Rescue Team Leader. He left the 48th RQS in January 1999 to join the 24th Special Tactics Squadron, located at Pope Air Force Base, North Carolina.

24th Special Tactics Squadron

From 1999 to 2005 Colón-López was a member of the 24th Special Tactics Squadron as a Special Tactics Element Leader. While a member of the 24th STS, from July 2002 to September 2004, Colón-López was deployed four times to Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom-Afghanistan as part of a joint task force to several classified locations in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. While deployed he participated in a series of joint operations, including direct assaults and combat search and rescue missions. During this time he also protected future Afghanistan president, Hamid Karzai, and received his first Bronze Star Medal with valor for his actions under fire while supporting Karzai's security detail. His second Bronze Star Medal was for his actions after his helicopter was shot down during a mission in Afghanistan. After the helicopter crash landed two Navy SEALs and Colón-López assaulted fortified enemy positions, killing five combatants and ensuring the safety of the remaining crew. He was selected to create and implement the unit's compartments Personnel Recovery Advance Force Operations team, which serviced the entire Joint Special Operations arena.

On March 11, 2004, Colón-López together with his Advance Force Operations Team and elements of the Afghan National Strike Unit, participated in an operation which required the capture of a high level target and a follow-on site exploitation with the intention of preventing the proliferation of chemical weapons. His helicopter drew hostile enemy fire yet Colón-López continued on his mission, which resulted in two enemy kills, the capture of 10 enemy troops and the destruction of multiple rocket propelled grenades and small caliber weapons. In January 2005, after Colón-López returned to the United States, he was named Superintendent of Training and later Commandant of the Pararescue and Combat Rescue Officer School.

Later career

Air Force Combat Action Medal

On June 13, 2007, Colón-López became the first Hispanic, and one of the first six airmen, to be awarded the newly created Air Force Combat Action Medal. It was bestowed upon him by Air Force Chief of Staff General Teed Michael Moseley at the Air Force Memorial, in Washington, DC. The medal was created to recognize Air Force members who are engaged in air or ground combat "outside the wire" in combat zones. Airmen who are under direct and hostile fire, or who personally engaged hostile forces with direct and lethal fire are eligible to receive the award. The other five airmen to receive the award were Major Steve Raspet; Master Sgt. Byron P. Allen; Master Sgt. Charlie Peterson; Staff Sgt. Daniel Paxton; and Capt. Allison K. Black.

After leaving the PJ/CRO Schoolhouse he returned to Pope Field and the 24th Special Tactics Squadron as the unit's Senior Enlisted Advisor from April 2009 to April 2011. After serving as the SEA for the 24th STS for two years he was then served as the inaugural Group Superintendent of the 724th Special Tactics Group at Pope Field which was activated on 30 April 2011, however he only held the position for six months before becoming the Command Chief Master Sergeant of the 1st Special Operations Wing at Hurlburt Field on November 30, 2011. In January 2013 Colón-López was re-assigned to the 18th Wing at Kadena AB, Japan where he currently serves as the wing's Command Chief.

A mannequin of Colón-López is featured at the U.S. Air Force Museum located in Dayton, Ohio, in the museum's "Warrior Airmen" exhibit.

Assignments

April 1991 - October 1992, Traffic Management Specialist, 7276 ABG, Iraklion AS, Crete, Greece
October 1992 - September 1994, Traffic Management Journeyman, 12th Tran SQ, Randolph AFB, TX
September 1994 - October 1996, Pararescue student, Det 1 342 TRS, Kirtland AFB, NM
October 1996 - February 1999, Pararescue Journeyman, 48th Rescue SQ, Holloman AFB, NM
February 1999 - January 2005, Special Tactics Element Leader, 24th STS, Pope AFB, NC
January 2005 - November 2006, Superintendent of Training/Chief Enlisted Manager, USAF PJ/CRO School, Kirtland AFB, NM
November 2006 - April 2009, Commandant, USAF PJ/CRO School, Kirtland AFB, NM
April 2009 - April 2011, Senior Enlisted Adviser, 24th Special Tactics SQ, Pope AFB, NC
April 2011 - November 2011, Group Superintendent, 724th Special Tactics Group, Pope AAF, NC
November 2011 - January 2013, Command Chief, 1st Special Operations Wing, Hurlburt Field, FL
January 2013 - Present, Command Chief, 18th Wing, Kadena AB, Japan

Awards, decorations and honors

Among Colón-López' military decorations and badges are the following:

	Basic US Air Force Enlisted Aircrew Badge
	Master Parachutist Badge
	Jumpmaster Military Freefall Parachutist Badge
	US Air Force Scuba Badge

	Defense Superior Service Medal
	Bronze Star Medal with Valor device and bronze oak leaf cluster
	Defense Meritorious Service Medal
	Meritorious Service Medal with bronze oak leaf cluster
	Air Medal with bronze oak leaf cluster
	Aerial Achievement Medal with two bronze oak leaf clusters
	Air Force Commendation Medal with bronze oak leaf cluster
	Joint Service Achievement Medal with bronze oak leaf cluster
	Air Force Achievement Medal with bronze oak leaf cluster
	Air Force Combat Action Medal *Inaugural recipient
	Presidential Unit Citation with bronze oak leaf cluster
	Presidential Unit Citation (Navy)
	Joint Meritorious Unit Award with three bronze oak leaf clusters
	Air Force Meritorious Unit Award with one bronze oak leaf
	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Valor device and three bronze oak leaf clusters
	Combat Readiness Medal with silver oak leaf cluster and three bronze oak leaf clusters
	Combat Readiness Medal
	Air Force Good Conduct Medal with silver oak leaf cluster and two bronze oak leaf clusters
	Air Force Recognition Ribbon with bronze oak leaf cluster
	National Defense Service Medal with bronze service star
	Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
	Southwest Asia Service Medal with bronze service star
	Afghanistan Campaign Medal with two bronze service stars
	Iraq Campaign Medal with one bronze service star
	Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
	Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
	Air Force Overseas Long Tour Service Ribbon
	Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with gold frame and silver oak leaf cluster
	Air Force Longevity Service Award with three bronze oak leaf clusters
	NCO Professional Military Education Graduate Ribbon with two bronze oak leaf clusters
	Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon with bronze service star
	Navy Expert Rifleman Medal
	Navy Expert Pistol Medal
	Air Force Training Ribbon
	Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait)

Other awards

1994 Senior Airman Below-the-Zone
1997 Leadership Award, Airman Leadership School
1998 Air Combat Command (ACC) Pararescue Noncommissioned Officer of the Year
2003 Commandant's Award and Distinguished Graduate, Gunter NCO Academy
2004 Air Force Pararescue Senior Noncommissioned Officer of the Year
2005 Air Force Lance P. Sijan Leadership Award recipient, Senior Noncommissioned Officer
2005 Team Kirtland Senior Noncommissioned Officer of the Year
2006 Jaycee's Ten Outstanding Young Americans USAF nominee to U.S. Chamber of Commerce
2013 Gathering of Eagles Inductee, USAF Air Command and Staff College