Public Affairs specialist is Wing Airman of the Year Published Dec. 3, 2006 By Senior Airman Chris Bolen 434th ARW Public Affairs GRISSOM AIR RESERVE BASE, Ind -- Air Force Reserve Senior Airman Mark Orders-Woempner, of Indianapolis, Ind., was recently named as the 434th Air Refueling Wing Airman of the Year. Airman Orders-Woempner is a public affairs specialist with the 434th Air Refueling Wing who entered military service following the attacks on 911. The Airman of the Year Award is given to service members who demonstrate exceptional expertise, professionalism, and advanced skills in their jobs, while supporting the mission of the Air Force Reserve Command. Finalists are previous winners of the Airman of the Quarter Award, who undergo further screening, and appear before a panel made up of the senior NCO leadership from all organizations on base. Airman Orders-Woempner was previously named Airman of the Quarter for the 4th quarter of 2006. According to the Airman "when I found out I was selected the Airman of the Quarter Award it seemed surreal." "I had no clue that I was even in consideration for the award," he continued. But, winning the Airman of the Year award was an even bigger surprise, he commented. "I was so surprised that when the Command Chief told me I was selected the Airman of the Year, I sprang from my chair, snagging my BDUs on the desk, and ripping them," he said with a chuckle. "I was completely floored when I found out." Among Airman Orders-Woempner's notable achievements was a five month deployment to Southwest Asia. During that time he edited a 16 page full color magazine for the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing, maintained contacts with over 100 news media organizations, and supplied escort to a variety of distinguished visitors. Overall, quite a load, considering that Senior Airman Orders-Woempner is a junior at IUPUI University entering his final year of study in business management and marketing.
