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Airman honored at New York City gala

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Bennie J. Davis III
  • Defense Media Activity-San Antonio
NEW YORK (AFNS) --  The editors of TIME magazine honored Chief Master Sgt. Antonio D. Travis as one of the 100 most influential people in the world for his efforts following the Haiti earthquake. He was recognized May 4 during the 2010 TIME 100 gala event at New York City's Lincoln Center.

Chief Travis was one of the first U.S. military members on the ground at the Toussaint L'Ouverture International Airport in Port au Prince, Haiti, only 30 hours after the earthquake and less than 12 hours after the nation's president requested U.S. assistance. The chief led a team of special tactics Airmen from the 23rd, 21st and 123rd special tactics squadrons.

With his team of combat veterans, Chief Travis led the largest single-runway operation in history, using hand-held radios to control thousands of aircraft. Their air traffic control tower was a card table set up next to the airport's runway.

"Twenty-eight minutes after touchdown, we controlled the first air landing followed immediately by a departure, and we did not slow down for the next 12 days," said Chief Travis, who hails from Nelson County, Ky.

After establishing control of the airfield there, his team orchestrated an orderly flow for incoming aircraft and dealt with the constraints of the inadequate airfield, which potentially could have limited relief operations. Facing 42 aircraft jammed into a parking ramp designed to accommodate 10 large planes, untangling the gridlock was the first of many seemingly insurmountable challenges necessary to facilitate the flood of inbound relief flights.

"I'm the figurehead for the 224 Airman participating in Operation Unified Response," said Chief Travis of his selection to be honored by the TIME magazine editors. "This honor is for the men and women from the 1st Special Operations Wing and more importantly, Air Force Special Operations Command, who went down there."

The TIME list, now in its seventh year, recognizes the activism, innovation and achievement of the world's most influential individuals.

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Material contained on the Official Grissom Air Reserve Base Internet Web Site is written and produced by members of the 434th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs Office. The award-winning staff includes:

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Maj. Elias Zani
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Master Sgt. Wendy Day
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Tech. Sgt. Alexa Culbert
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Senior Airman Elise Faurote
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Senior Airman Benjamin Cowles
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