Wing announces annual award winners Published Feb. 12, 2008 By Compiled from staff reports 354th Fighter Wing Public Affairs EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska -- Eielson recognized the best-of-the-best Feb. 8, announcing the wing's annual award winners during a ceremony at the Westmark Hotel in Fairbanks. This year's annual award winners are: Senior Airman Steven Harris, 354th Mission Support Group, Airman category; Tech. Sgt. Jennifer Dreier, 354th Medical Group, NCO category; Master Sgt. Carmen Cate, 354th MDG, Senior NCO category; Senior Master Sgt. Richard Hageman, 354th MSG, First Sergeant category; Capt. Tammy Colvin, 354th Associate Group, Company Grade Officer category; Capt. Jeremy Jacobson, 354th Operations Group, Flight Commander category; Barbara Eddleman, 354th MSG, Civilian Specialist category; Umit Spencer, 354th MSG, Civilian Technician category; Donald Fry, 354th MSG, Civilian Supervisor category; and Robert Cologie, 354th ASG, Civilian Program Manager category; Staff Sgt. Jonathan Unfried, 354th MSG, Honor Guardsmen category. Airman Harris, 354th Civil Engineer Squadron, is assigned as an Explosive Ordinance Disposal Journeyman. He performed analysis after 15 improvised explosive device detonations, gathering forensic data that helped identify, track, and eliminate a bomber cell while deployed. His efforts significantly improved Baghdad operations. He was awarded the Army Commendation Medal by Commander, Combined Joint Task Force Troy. Sergeant Dreier, 354th Medical Operations Support Squadron, is assigned as the NCOIC of the Dental Operations Element. She was selected as the Pacific Air Forces' 2007 Air Force Medical Services dental NCO of the year. Her efforts led Eielson's dental team for post-deployment health reassessment processes. The teams achieved an outstanding rate of 99 percent, number one in the Air Force. Sergeant Cate, 354th Medical Operations Support Squadron is the NCOIC of the Optometry Services clinic. She was selected as the PACAF 2007 senior NCO Ophthalmic Technician of the Year and the medical group senior NCO of the first and third quarters. She assisted with both the secretary of defense and the PACAF Command Chief Eielson visits. She was also requested to co-chair the Army/Navy/Air Force Optometric Society conference. Sergeant Cate would like to thank God, 2 Corinthians 5:7; her husband and daughter for always being there even when she wasn't. Her staff for covering her duties and finding her in the hallways and putting up with her 'blue' personality, Master Sgt. Christine Griffith for always volunteering, Chief Browning and Chief Lawrence for mentoring and keeping her on track, Wing Protocol staff for opportunities and belly laughs, each MDG Top 3 member, for being there more than they realize. "Winning an award is not about an individual's accomplishments," she said. "It's about the team who surrounds an individual." Sergeant Hageman, is the First Sergeant for the 354th Civil Engineer Squadron. As The squadron's role model, his leadership and ceaseless support for the 553 civil engineers is evident in the production of Eielson's first-ever video telecom with 65 civil engineers deployed to Balad Air Base, Iraq. His fierce fundraising efforts at his deployed location raised $400 of the $9,200 for Eielson's Operation Warm-Heart. Captain Colvin, 354th Comptroller Squadron, is the chief of the financial services flight. While deployed she calmly directed more than 200 personnel to safety during an indirect-fire rocket attack on Camp Lightning, Afghanistan. She hand selected personnel essential to a local court martial fraud case and provided the prosecution's expert witness who interpreted finance documents, resulting in $52 thousand in stolen government funds being recuperated. She also organized a CGO golf tournament with max participation of 88 local, Air Force and Army leaders. Her efforts garnered $4,000 in raised funds. "I would like to thank my family for their understanding and support in everything I do," she said. "Also a heart-felt thanks goes to each individual in the Financial Services Flight and Comptroller Squadron for their devotion to providing the best possible service to our customers; and my commander and superintendent for providing valuable mentorship and guidance." Captain Jacobson, 353rd Combat Training Squadron, is the exercise support division chief of his flight. In 2007, he alerted aircrews to a number one engine fire, directing the engine shutdown and initial response, saving the $12 million aircraft. He was also the Maintenance Group's lead for the A-10 transfer, coordinating with four Major Commands to move three jets in only one week. Furthermore, he choreographed the base Open House private fund raising and marketing efforts, raised an excess of $1 thousand and drawing 10,000 attendees. He would like to thank his wife for always believing in him, even when he doesn't believe in himself. "I would also like to thank all of the professional NCO's and SNCO's that made this award possible. It was their help that allowed me to achieve this award." Ms. Eddleman, 354th Force Support Squadron, is a librarian at the base library. She monitors all circulation, technical service operations, expenditures and allocations for all monies while also performing descriptive cataloging by modifying existing records to match the items on hand. She lobbied for and developed library briefings for the First Term Airmen Center ensuring that all newly assigned Airmen are briefed on the Library's location and what it has to offer. Mrs. Spencer, 354th CES, is a housing maintenance contract monitor, and is responsible for planning, organization, scheduling, coordinating and performing a variety of quality assurance assignments related to maintainability and cleanliness of permanent party housing facilities and is the primary point of contact for all matters relating to housing maintenance contracts. In 2007, she won the PACAF Housing Maintenance Award recognizing the "Air Force Outstanding Mid-Level Housing Manager." Mrs. Spencer would like to thank her kids, Selim, Melissa and Ashley, and her husband, David, for the encouragement and love. "I also would like to thank to my AF family: 354th FW, 354th MSG and 354th CES leadership, my flight chief, Lorie Dallas, and the Housing Office staff for allowing me to be a part of this awesome team." Mr. Fry, 354th CES, exercises technical and administrative supervision over subordinate workers in accomplishing trades and labor work maintaining the Primary Co-Generation Coal fired Power Plant. He hand picked and built a dedicated team of 17 technicians that tackled the challenge of maintenance and repair of the 55-year-old central heat and power plant, receiving a 99.99 percent reliability rating. "I would like to thank the people who work at the power plant," he said. "They are an exceptional group of people who do great work every day to keep this plant running, they make me look good with their hard work." Mr. Cologie, 354th Fighter Wing Plans and Programs chief, manages the wing's operational security and military deception programs and is also responsible for leading and directing analysis on special projects and operational initiatives. He orchestrated the complex synchronization efforts of two MAJCOMs, three wings, and the corporate sector for the successful F-22 cold weather test. Sergeant Unfried, 354th Logistics Readiness Squadron fuels distribution supervisor, executed 60 details amassing an astounding 139 individual detail hours. He was the detail commander for 42 details including, eight military funerals, Memorial and Veteran's Day events, Military Appreciation Banquet, the Open House Ceremony and the 2007 Secretary of the Air Force visit. Winners from the annual wing awards will advance to compete at the 11th Air Force level. The 11th Air Force winners will be announced March 17 at Elmendorf.