GRISSOM AIR RESERVE BASE, Ind. -- Each year, outstanding Airmen from around the Air Force are recognized for their exceptional performance and dedication to duty.
The 434th Air Refueling Wing held an award ceremony near the base April 13 to honor Airmen and civilian of the year award recipients.
During the event, retired Col. Gary Beebe, a former Air Force Reserve wing commander, served as the keynote speaker for the evening.
Beebe delivered a speech about the characteristics of good leadership, which include integrity, compassion, vision, competence and humility.
"Humility is the greatest and most under-used characteristic that great leaders possess," he shared.
After Beebe's speech, the 2012 award recipients were formally recognized. They included:
- Airman of the Year: Senior Airman Jesse VanEngelenhoven, 434th Logistics Readiness Squadron logistics plans technician
- Noncommissioned Officer of the Year: Master Sgt. Zachary Chapin, 434th Maintenance Squadron jet engine mechanic
- Senior Noncommissioned Officer of the Year: Chief Master Sgt. Stephen Groszek, 434th Civil Engineering Squadron fire chief
- Company Grade Officer of the Year: Capt. Paul McComas, former 434th Operations Support Squadron intelligence officer, now stationed at Keesler Air Force Base, Miss
- First Sergeant of the Year: Master Sgt. Brian Rude, 434th LRS first sergeant
- Civilian of the Year: Jill Marconi, Grissom Airman and Family Readiness Center director
"Award banquets, such as this one, allow for their peers to see what it takes to excel and standout among other exceptional Airmen," shared Chief Master Sgt. Karen Perkins, 434th ARW command chief. "Also, it's important to have public recognition for all of our great Airmen; they need to be recognized for the work they have done."
The award winners moved on to compete at the numbered air force level, where they competed with others from around the Air Force.
The 434th ARW is the largest KC-135R Stratotanker unit in the Air Force Reserve Command.
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