Eielson recognizes 2006's best of the best

  • Published
  • By Airman Nora Anton
  • 354th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska --  The 354th Fighter Wing recognized 2006's best of the best during its annual awards ceremony Feb. 2 at the Westmark Hotel in Fairbanks. 

The 2006 annual award winners are: Staff Sgt. Matthew Coleman, 354th Maintenance Squadron, Airman category; Tech. Sgt. Raymond Jock, 354th MXS, NCO category; Master Sgt. Chuck Jenkins, 354th MXS, Senior NCO category; Master Sgt. James Biggerstaff, 354th Operations Group, First Sergeant category; Capt. Christopher Smith, 354th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Company Grade Officer category; Capt. Marshall Chalverus, 18th Fighter Squadron, Military Flight Commander category; Michelle Nelson, 354th Mission Support Squadron, Civilian I category; Vickie Tallman, 354th Civil Engineer Squadron, Civilian II category; Jacqueline Green, 354th MSS, Civilian III category; Owen Quarnberg, 354th MSS, Civilian IV category; and Tech. Sgt. Michael Roxberry, 354th Operations Support Squadron, Honor Guardsman category. 

The wing also recognized its fourth Honorary Iceman of the Year, Mr. Butch Stein, of the Fairbanks Convention and Visitors Bureau, for his outstanding support of the Iceman Team in 2006. Mr. Stein joins past winners Kara Moriarty, Karen Washburn and Steve Lundgren. 

Sergeant Coleman demonstrated superior ability when he took over the consolidated tool kit program one month prior to the Headquarters Pacific Air Forces Unit compliance Inspection and worked tirelessly for two consecutive weekends rebuilding the tool kits, resulting in a 100-percent pass rate. 

"It's always good to be recognized for the work you do," he said. "I'd like to thank my wife for her love and support, but I'd also like to thank everyone in my shop for their mentorship, encouragement and advice." 

Sergeant Jock is the recipient of the 354th Fighter Wing 2006 Lance P. Sijan Junior Enlisted Award. He guided the 2006 Logistics Standardization Evaluation Team preparations and his error-free bench stock was hailed as a model for others. 

Through personal drive to excel, he successfully completed the Senior Non-Commissioned Officer Academy Course 14 in just eight weeks. He earned an incredible 31 credits toward his bachelors' degree, made the Dean's List and maintained an impressive 4.0 grade point average. 

Among his other duties, Master Sgt. Chuck Jenkins ensured 771 quality assurance inspections were performed while deployed to Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. His superior oversight ensured mission success. Additionally, he coordinated with Air Force Engineering and Technical Services engineers in developing a critical pylon inspection procedure to A-10 technical orders. 

"I was truly honored and surprised based on the high caliber of senior NCOs in the wing," Sergeant Jenkins said. "All of our senior NCOs were involved with the success of the wing." 

"I would have to thank the seniors and chiefs who not only mentored me but took the time to acknowledge the accomplishments of their troops," he said. "I would have to say my biggest accomplishment was finishing my degree while balancing family time with four kids, a short-notice deployment and learning new jobs. It felt like a lot of pressure at moments, but when I look back on it, I feel very accomplished." 

He also completed the senior non-commissioned officer academy course in only three weeks, and scored above 93 percent on three of the five tests. 

Master Sgt. Biggerstaff, while deployed in support of OEF, led two combat stress-related commander-directed evaluations and expedited the return of two airmen to their unit. He also decisively rendered first aid to an injured local national; his immediate action ensured safety and strengthened United States and Afghan relations. At home station, he is the president of the First Sergeant's Council, where he led and increased the knowledge of primary and additional duty shirts by initiating a continuing education training program. 

Captain Smith earned PACAF's 2006 Lt. Gen. Leo Marquez Outstanding Aircraft Maintenance Company Grade Officer of the Year award. He led 205 technicians from Eielson to Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan, and safely generated 4,600 sorties and 10,300 flying hours with only 17 aircraft. He ensured the safe launch of life-saving close air support sorties for 1,300 warriors in contact with anti-coalition militants during Operation Mountain Lion, the largest-ever Afghan offensive to that date. 

Captain Chalverus was recognized as the Air Force Association's most outstanding flying contributor to national defense. He was selected as the PACAF Schilling Award winner and will now be competing at the Air Force level for this prestigious award. The distinct initiative demonstrated by Captain Chalverus was key to preparing four young wingmen for flight lead upgrade at 300 hours, well ahead of their peers. 

His exemplary leadership directly contributed to the success of more than 2,200 F-16 combat missions in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. While deployed to Balad AB, Iraq, he directed Iraqi commandos to an insurgent house where a high-ranking Iraqi government official was subsequently rescued. 

Ms. Nelson single-handedly processed more than 1,200 DEROS applications and extensions and reduced expired DEROS numbers by more than 90 percent. 

Her rapid processing of eight out-of-cycle in-place consecutive overseas tour packages saved the Air Force thousands of dollars in relocation costs. She created a one-stop passport office for active duty, civilian and dependents and saved more than 240 man-hours. 

Ms. Tallman set the standard for others to achieve in 2006 by conducting a staggering 505 pre-final, final and assignment inspections at the housing office. 

Her suggestion for a Town Hall meeting for families affected by evacuation of Sprucewood Homes was well received. She set up a panel that included seven base agencies and the wing commander to brief the audience of more than 450. Ms. Tallman partnered with the fire department to obtain approval for outdoor fire pits in military family housing, a huge quality of life initiative for many housing residents. 

Ms. Green is hailed as the Energizer Bunny, a highly motivated wing asset who garnered more than 40 new commercial sponsorship agreements, 15 donation acceptance letters and 8 advertising agreements. 

Her partnering effort with public affairs created an eye-popping base paper color insert that drew immediate attention and significantly increased participation in 354th Service Squadron activities and events. More than 800 were in attendance at the wing Homecoming Ceremony she masterminded, the first ever on Eielson; it was dubbed as an incomparable success for all. 

She redesigned the squadron Web site and ingeniously incorporated the Air Force Services Agency's corporate identity. 

Mr. Quarnberg is the director of the Airmen and Family Readiness Center and is responsible for planning, development and supervision of all AFRC programs and services at Eielson. He expertly marketed Eielson's Air Force Assist Fund campaign drive which gathered more than $56 thousand dollars in donations that directly benefit Iceman families. His management and oversight of a phenomenal volunteer program netted more than 8,000 hours from more than 200 wing volunteers. 

"I was surprised to be recognized at this level," Mr. Quarnberg said. "I want to thank my wife and kids for putting up with the long hours, and I'd also like to thank the staff of the Airman and Family Readiness Center and the Civilian Personnel office." 

Sergeant Roxberry was recognized for executing 33 details, amassing an astounding 70 individual detail hours and spearheading the creation of the first-ever Eielson Air Force Base Honor Guard coin. 

"It is truly an honor to be recognized as the 2006 Honor Guardsman of the Year. There are so many honor guard members that go above and beyond the call of duty every day. Every one of them is absolutely deserving of this award, which makes it that much more of an honor for me to receive this recognition," Sergeant Roxberry said. 

"I believe my biggest achievement this past year has been the reconstruction of the honor guard training program," he said. "I saw it as my duty to fix what was broken and to make the program better than what it was when I took it over." 

Congratulations to the award winners and the entire Iceman Team on an outstanding 2006!