FALLS CHURCH, Va. --
The Air Force Surgeon General is proud to announce the recipients of the 2020 Air Force Medical Service Annual Awards. The awards include both individual and team awards.
The nominations submitted reflect the extraordinary quality of Air Force medics. The accomplishments of those recognized demonstrate expertise, leadership and commitment across the full breadth of the mission support we provide to the Department of the Air Force and Combatant Commanders. We also applaud the colleagues, teammates and families whose tireless support and dedication allowed our winners to shine.
Congratulations to all the award recipients who represent the many outstanding professionals of Air Force Medicine delivering “Trusted Care Anywhere!”
Individual Awards:
USAF Young Health Care Administrator of the Year
Capt Jill A. Ochoa
366 HCOS/SGGM, Mountain Home AFB, ID, ACC
USAF MSC Commitment to Service Award
Lt Col Cody J. Hess
86 MDSS/CC, Ramstein Air Base, Germany, USAFE
USAF MSC Civilian of the Year
Mr. Anthony B. Rolle
AFMRA, Defense Health Headquarters, VA, AFMRA
USAF Biomedical Clinician of the Year - Company Grade Category
Capt Edward J. Bylotas
71 OMRS/SGOW, Vance AFB, OK, AETC
USAF Biomedical Clinician of the Year - Field Grade Category
Maj Emanuel J. VonDran
673 MDOS/SGOW, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, AK, PACAF
USAF Biomedical Specialist of the Year - Company Grade Category
Capt Crystal M. Davis
27 SOMDSS/SGSL, Cannon AFB, NM, AFSOC
USAF Biomedical Specialist of the Year - Field Grade Category
Maj Benjamin C. Weaver
628 OMRS/SGXB, Joint Base Charleston, SC, AMC
USAF Biomedical Clinician Civilian of the Year
Ms. Mary J. Waddell
75 OMRS/SGOW, Hill AFB, UT, AFMC
USAF Biomedical Specialist Civilian of the Year
Ms. Jenna A. Taylor
99 MDSS/SGSL, Nellis AFB, NV, ACC
USAF Dental Civilian of the Year
Ms. Melissa R. Williams
22 MDG, McConnell AFB, KS, AMC
USAF Clinical Dentist of the Year
Capt Naomi Kong
6 OMRS/SGXD, MacDill AFB, FL, AMC
USAF Dental Educator of the Year
Maj Angela M. Synatzske
59th DTS/SGDTX, JBSA Lackland, TX, AETC
USAF Enlisted Health Services Management Airman of the Year
SrA Cassandra R. Thompson
81 MSGS/SGCX, Keesler AFB, MS, AETC
USAF Enlisted Health Services Management NCO of the Year
SSgt Sherita D. Coghill
45 HCOS/SGGT, Patrick AFB, FL, USSF
USAF Medical Materiel Airman of the Year
SrA Brianna D. Prude
52 MDSS/SGSM, Spangdahlem AB, Germany, USAFE
USAF Medical Materiel NCO of the Year
TSgt Sandra J. Phillips
60 MDSS/SGSLB-1, Travis AFB, CA, AMC
USAF Biomedical Equipment Repair Airman of the Year
SrA Luisa M. Howell
81 MDSS/SGSM, Keesler AFB, MS, AETC
USAF Biomedical Equipment Repair NCO of the Year
TSgt Quentin D. Richardson
81 MDSS/SGSM, Keesler AFB, AETC
USAF Base Bioenvironmental Engineering Airman of the Year
SrA Scottie T. Shoemaker
97 OMRS/SGOJ, Altus AFB, OK, AETC
USAF Base Bioenvironmental Engineering NCO of the Year
TSgt Mathew M. Footit
AFTC, Las Vegas, NV, AFMC
USAF Mental Health Airman of the Year
A1C Armando J. Suarez Hernandez
509 OMRS/SGOZ, Whiteman AFB, MO, AFGSC
USAF Mental Health NCO of the Year
TSgt Robert L. Mussyal
90 OMRS/SGOW, F.E. Warren AFB, WY, AFGSC
USAF Diet Therapy Airman of the Year
SrA Caitlin E. Brooks
60 MDTS/SGQD, Travis AFB, CA, AMC
USAF Diet Therapy NCO of the Year
TSgt Jamie L. Bearce
81 MDTS/SGQD, Keesler AFB, MS, AETC
USAF Public Health Airman of the Year
SSgt Wyquesha A. Prince
559 MDG/SGPM, JBSA Lackland, TX, AETC
USAF Public Health NCO of the Year
TSgt Necita J.C. Aldan
35 AMDS/SGPF, Misawa AB, PACAF
USAF Cardiopulmonary Laboratory Airman of the Year
SrA Avery B. Chandler
673 MDOS/SGOMC, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, AK, PACAF
USAF Cardiopulmonary Laboratory NCO of the Year
TSgt Adam J. Cardoza
86 Medical Sq/SGOM, Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, Germany, USAFE
USAF Physical Medicine Airman of the Year
SrA Chelsea L. Jones
99 MDG/SGOY, Nellis AFB, NV, ACC
USAF Physical Medicine NCO of the Year
TSgt Russell P. Weber
59 MDW/SGCO, JBSA-Lackland, TX, AETC
USAF Aerospace and Operational Physiology Airman of the Year
A1C Jordan N. Alvey
316 AMDS, Joint Base Andrews, MD, AFDW
USAF Aerospace and Operational Physiology NCO of the Year
TSgt Marissa R. Alcantara
48 OMRS/SGXT, RAF Lakenheath, United Kingdom, USAFE
USAF Aerospace Medicine Airman of the Year
SrA Jordan Price
374 HCOS/SGGE, Yokota AB, Japan, PACAF
USAF Aerospace Medicine NCO of the Year
TSgt Miguel A. Rodriguez
51 OMRS/SGPF, Osan AB, Republic of Korea, PACAF
USAF Surgical Service Airman of the Year
SrA Richard L. Ferrell
48th Surgical Operations Squadron/SGCU, RAF Lakenheath, United Kingdom, USAFE
USAF Surgical Service NCO of the Year
TSgt Bruce E. Wiggs
48th Surgical Operations Squadron/SGCU, RAF Lakenheath, United Kingdom, USAFE
USAF Pharmacy Technician Airman of the Year
SrA Lakeri K. Washington
92 MDSS/SGSD, Fairchild AFB, WA, AMC
USAF Pharmacy Technician NCO of the Year
TSgt Joel M. Polintan
15 MDSS/SGSD, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, HI, PACAF
USAF Diagnostic Imaging Airman of the Year
SrA Bonnie L. Daye III
48th MDSS/SGSAR, RAF Lakenheath, United Kingdom, USAFE
USAF Diagnostic Imaging NCO of the Year
TSgt Jada L. Forney
52 MDSS/SGSQ, Spangdahlem, Germany, USAFE
USAF Laboratory Airman of the Year
SrA Jerry M. Jennings
99 MDSS/SGSL, Nellis AFB, NV, ACC
USAF Laboratory NCO of the Year
TSgt Igor E. Dufrene
60 MDG/SGSE, Travis AFB, CA, AMC
USAF Ophthalmic Airman of the Year
SrA Rachel C. Lawrence
374 OMRS/SGXE, Yokota AB, Japan, PACAF
USAF Ophthalmic NCO of the Year
TSgt Bradley A. Louk
20 OMRS/SGXE, Shaw AFB, SC, ACC
USAF Dental Airman of the Year
SrA Julianne C. Andersen
316 DS/SGD, Joint Base Andrews, MD, AFDW
USAF Dental NCO of the Year
TSgt Timothy A. Wright
374th DS/SGDD, Yokota AB, Japan, PACAF
USAF SNCO Operational Medicine Excellence Award
MSgt Miranda L. Krill
374 HCOS, Yokota AB, Japan, PACAF
USAF SNCO Organizational Management Excellence Award
SMSgt Kristi M. Charles
99 DS, Nellis AFB, NV, ACC
USAF SNCO Clinical Support Excellence Award
SMSgt Michael J. Henson
60 MDSS, Travis AFB, CA, AMC
USAF Medical Service SNCO Leadership Award
SMSgt Tyrell L. McClora
99 IPTS, Nellis AFB, NV, ACC
USAF Medical Service Civilian Performance Excellence Award
Mr. Dwain D. Hedgepeth
22 MDG, McConnell AFB, KS, AMC
USAF Medical Service Civilian Organizational Leadership Award
Ms. Melody M. Stokes
673 MDSS/SGSI, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, AK, PACAF
USAF Medical Service Civilian Enterprise Leadership Excellence Award
Mr. Joseph G. Harre
724 STG, Pope Army Air Field, NC, AFSOC
USAF Physician of the Year - Company Grade Category
Capt Talon W. Miner
435 CRSS/SGPJ, Ramstein AB, Germany, USAFE
USAF Physician of the Year - Field Grade Category
Lt Col Bryan D. Szalwinski
18 MDOS/SGOMI, Kadena AB, Japan, PACAF
USAF Chief of the Medical Staff of the Year
Lt Col Timothy J. Coker
21 MDG, Peterson AFB, CO, USSF
USAF Physician Educator of the Year
Maj Joshua M. Tate
81 MDOS/SGOMM, Keesler AFB, MS, AETC
USAF Clinical Excellence in Nursing Award – Company Grade Category
Capt John H. Williams Jr.
35 AMDS/SGPF, Misawa AFB, Japan, PACAF
USAF Clinical Excellence in Nursing Award – Field Grade Category
Maj Alisha L. Acosta
96 IPTS/SGIA, Eglin AFB, FL, AFMC
USAF Privileged Advanced Practice Nurse Award
Maj Michelle F.G. Woodie
316 HCOS/SGOPG, Joint Base Andrews, MD, AFDW
USAF Civilian Nurse of the Year
Ms. Kathy M. Williams
96 IPTS/SGIA, Eglin AFB, FL, AFMC
USAF Excellence in Nursing Leadership Award
Lt Col Christopher W. Kelly
14 MDG/SGN, Columbus AFB, MS, AETC
USAF Achievement in Nursing Force Development Award
Maj Meki L. Bocage
36 MDG/SGNE, Anderson AFB, Guam, PACAF
USAF Achievement in Clinical Research Award
Maj Joshua J. Van Wyngaaden
AFELM Med DoD, Defense Health Headquarters, VA, HAF
USAF Personnel Reliability Assurance Program Monitor/Technician of the Year
SrA Julianna S. Peregrina
55th AMS/SGPFP, Offutt AFB, NE, ACC
Team Awards:
USAF Medical Logistics Team of the Year
673 MDSS/SGSM, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, AK, PACAF
USAF Resource Management Team of the Year
45 HCOS/SGGR, Patrick AFB, FL, USSF
USAF Medical Information Services Team of the Year
86 MDSS/SGSI, Ramstein AB, Germany, USAFE
USAF Health Plan Management Team of the Year
35 MDSS/SGST, Misawa AB, Japan, PACAF
USAF Medical Readiness Team of the Year
36 MDG/SGX, Anderson AB, Guam, PACAF
USAF Biomedical Sciences Corps Team of the Year
AFMRA/SG3O, Falls Church, VA, AFMRA
USAF Small Dental Clinic of the Year
F.E. Warren AFB, WY, AFGSC
USAF Medium Dental Clinic of the Year
Kirtland AFB, NM, AFGSC
USAF Large Dental Clinic of the Year
Travis AFB, CA, AMC
USAF Outstanding Personnel Reliability Assurance Program Team of the Year
52d AMS/SGPF, Spangdahlem AB, Germany, USAFE
USAF Medical Home Award
4 HCOS/SGGB, Seymour Johnson AFB, NC, ACC
USAF Best Ambulatory Clinic Patient Safety Program
78 MDG/CC, Robins AFB, GA, AFMC
USAF Best Inpatient Facility Patient Safety Program
99 MDG/CC, Nellis AFB, NV, ACC
USAF Best AE Squadron Patient Safety Program
86 AES/AES, Ramstein AB, Germany, USAFE
USAF Surgeon General Award for Clinic of the Year
78 MDG, Robins AFB, GA, AFMC
USAF Surgeon General Award for Hospital of the Year
673 MDG, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, AK, PACAF
Congratulations once again to all of our Annual Award Nominees and Winners!