Maintenance professionals recognized as best-of-the-best at Kunsan

  • Published
  • 8th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
KUNSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea --  Airmen with the 8th Maintenance Group received recognition for their job performance during the annual Maintenance Professionals of the Year ceremony held March 16, 2018, at Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea.

At the event, guest speaker and former 8th MXG commander, Brig. Gen. Ronald E. Jolly Sr., 82nd Training Wing commander, provided remarks on the enduring efforts and professionalism of the maintenance career fields as a whole and the accomplishments of those in attendance.

“From the maintenance analyst, to the munitions storage area, to the prop shop to the fuel cell all the way out to the flightline there is absolutely no other place that has the kind of comradery that maintenance has,” said Jolly. “We don’t do anything on our own, but tonight we are here to celebrate those who exercise leadership, regardless of rank.”

The 8th MXG is responsible for a broad scope of operations from day-to-day pre and post-flight maintenance to bomb builds and all the way up to regular phase inspections of the Wolf Pack’s F-16 aircraft.

“Everything that we’ve accomplished [here at the Wolf Pack] has come from the ground up,” said Col. G. Hall Sebren, 8th MXG commander. “When you leave Kunsan, you will be an asset to whatever installation you go to. They will come to you to figure out how to generate combat air power. Take the things that you’ve learned here and make them better because I could not be more proud of all of you.”

In total, Airmen competed in over 30 categories related to the performance of their various skillsets and trades.
The following were the 2018 winners:

Analyst Airman of the Year-Senior Airman Todd Ameer

Analyst NCO of the Year -Staff Sgt. Mikhail Gutkin

Analyst Senior NCO of the Year-Master Sgt. Conray Brown

Scheduler Airman of the Year -Senior Airman Michael Letendre

Scheduler NCO of the Year-Tech Sgt. Larry Davis

Outstanding Load Crew of the Year Crew 9: Staff Sgt. Derrick Dion, Airman 1st Class Alden Begay, Senior Airman Brenda Escobar

Armament Systems Technician of the Year-Senior Airman Jacob Venegas

Armament Systems Supervisor of the Year-Staff Sgt. Sean Hatcher

Armament Systems Manager of the Year-Master Sgt. Lawrence Pyne

Maintenance Training Section of the Year-8th MXG

Maintenance Training Section Instructor of the Year-Staff Sgt. Alex Tamsen

Maintenance Training Section Manager of the Year-Staff Sgt. Floyd Reeves

Airman Maintenance Professional of the Year-Senior Airman Mitchell Mosier

NCO Maintenance Professional of the Year-Staff Sgt. William Horne ll

Senior NCO Maintenance Professional of the Year-Master Sgt. Joshua Masimer

Company Grade Officer Maintenance Professional of the Year-Capt. Bryan Beals

Airman Maintenance Support Professional of the Year-Senior Crystal Trivolis

NCO Maintenance Support Professional of the Year-Staff Sgt. Corrin Baker

Senior NCO Maintenance Support Professional of the Year-Master Sgt. Joshua Chellberg

Munitions Systems Supervisor of the Year-Tech Sgt. Michael Burdge

Munitions Systems Manager of the Year-Master Sgt. Jerrad Kooley

Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Barnes Crew Chief of the Year-Staff Sgt. Brett Vought

Lt. Gen. Leo Marquez Aircraft Maintenance Award – CGO Capt. Joseph Griffin

Lt. Gen. Leo Marquez Aircraft Maintenance Technician Award – Manager Senior Master Sgt. Steven Nealy

Lt. Gen. Leo Marquez Aircraft Maintenance Technician Award – Supervisor Tech Sgt. Junior Martinez

Lt. Gen. Leo Marquez Aircraft Maintenance Award – Technician Staff Sgt. Shelby Throckmorton

Lt. Gen. Leo Marquez Munitions and Missile Maintenance Technician Award – Manager Master Sgt. Jerrad Kooley

Lt. Gen. Leo Marquez Munitions and Missile Maintenance Technician Award – Supervisor Tech Sgt. Michael Burdge

Lt. Gen. Leo Marquez Munitions and Missile Maintenance Award – Technician Senior Airman Dylan Hayer

Lt. Gen. Leo Marquez Munitions and Missile Maintenance Award – Civilian Manager Mr. Kyong Min Yi