Three Wolf Pack Warriors take 7th AF honors

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Amanda Savannah
  • 8th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
KUNSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea --  Three Wolf Pack Warriors received numbered Air Force-level honors during the 7th Air Force annual awards banquet at Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea, Feb. 27.

Tech. Sgt. Yusef Saad, 8th Logistics Readiness Squadron fuels service center NCO in charge, was named 7th AF NCO of the Year; Master Sgt. Patrick Piazza, 8th LRS first sergeant, was named 7th AF First Sergeant of the Year; and Kim Hyon-Chun, 8th Force Support Squadron materials handler leader, was named 7th AF Category I Outstanding Civilian of the Year.

Sergeant Piazza received word of winning the 7th AF-level award while on leave.

"It feels wonderful," he said. "To know that I was selected from other first sergeants is something that makes me feel very proud. All of the people in this category would be deserving of this award, and I feel very honored to have represented the Wolf Pack at the 7th AF awards."

Sergeant Saad and Mr. Kim said they were both surprised and honored to personally receive the award from both Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Remington, 7th AF commander, and Chief Master Sgt. Tom Baker, 7th AF command chief.

"It was an honor and I was very thrilled to receive the award from them," Sergeant Saad said.

"I still can't believe I received such a big award as this," Mr. Kim said. "I'd like to thank everyone for this remarkable award they've given me. I also didn't expect to receive the award from General Remington and Chief Baker! It was awesome!"

Though Sergeant Saad, Sergeant Piazza and Mr. Kim were surprised with their achievements, their supervisors were not.

"Sergeant Saad's leadership as an NCO has been tremendous for our flight," said Senior Master Sgt. John Reed, 8th LRS fuels superintendent. "He has volunteered several hours of his personal time since he has been here, and was key for us in preparing for the LCAP [Logistics Compliance Assessment Program] inspection, which we got an 'Excellent' rating for. He also leads our Airmen in their education, and he is going to school right now for his doctorate, so he has a lot of our Airmen going to school as well. He has been a tremendous leader within our flight, squadron, and for the wing."

As fuels service center NCOIC, Sergeant Saad expertly led 16 Airmen in issuing 19 million gallons of fuel to 13,000 aircraft in 2010. He also validated more than 800 compliance items as the LCAP Tiger team lead, contributing to the 8th LRS garnering the "Excellent" rating during their inspection.

Sergeant Saad also assumed senior NCO roles in 2010, when he was selected to fill an additional-duty first sergeant position for eight months. During his tenure, he assisted 90 squadron members and mitigated 14 wing incidents. He also honed his joint service command and control skills during a 40-hour senior enlisted joint professional military education course, earning a 98-percent end-of-course score.

Sergeant Saad also led 11 Airmen Assisting Airmen and Town Patrol teams, spending 145 hours policing International Culture Ville and Gunsan City streets and escorting 300 Airmen safely to their rooms, ultimately ensuring the safety of all Wolf Pack Warriors.

Maj. Robert Bearden, 8th LRS commander, said he nominated Sergeant Piazza to recognize him for all of his efforts in taking care of the squadron's and wing's Airmen.

"Master Sergeant Piazza truly embodies the idea of a servant leader in that he consistently puts the morale and welfare of Airmen ahead of his own desires, schedule and routine," Major Bearden said. "This is evident in every aspect of his life here at Kunsan, and affects more than just Airmen from his squadron. From his leadership in the wing First Sergeant's Council to chairing wing-wide AFSO [Air Force Smart Operations] 21 events, every Airman on base is better off thanks to the work Master Sergeant Piazza does day in and day out."

In 2010, Sergeant Piazza guided more than 270 Airmen, encompassing 10 diverse logistics Air Force Specialty Codes, in logistics support, surpassing an operational readiness inspection air tasking order by 25 percent, which the inspector general rated as "Outstanding." He also merged 15 Airmen on temporary duty here into squadron operations, driving 2,000 Pacific Command theater support package combat readiness sorties.

Sergeant Piazza completed his final six hours and was awarded a bachelor's degree in Human Resource Management in 2010, being named on the fourth straight Dean's List for maintaining a 3.6 grade-point average in a degree that aids him in key manning decisions. He also briefed 42 new Air Force spouses during a Heart Link program, an event that assisted in preparing the spouses for their transition into military life and enhanced Sergeant Piazza's speaking abilities.

Sergeant Piazza was also hand-picked to guide the wing's 14 shirts as president of the First Sergeant's Council in 2010, personally driving three wing-wide programs and ultimately impacting the careers of the wing's more than 2,000 Airmen.

Steven Wilson, 8th FSS resource management chief, said he submitted Mr. Kim for his award because he has been a proven asset to the Wolf Pack team.

"I hired Mr. Kim to manage the non-appropriated fund central warehouse about two and a half years ago," Mr. Wilson said. "He had no experience, but was young and eager. He has proven to be a great asset on the job and across the squadron. He is one of those people you think about who is a shining star, in the top 10 percent of everything, in the military too. He volunteers to help with any project, and if he knows there is a self-help project in the squadron, he wants to be a part of it. He is smart, eager, always positive and is a pleasure to work around."

As the NAF central warehouse manager, Mr. Kim ensures $2.5 million in resale is available to approximately 2,700 Wolf Pack Warriors annually. If specific items are requested, he also coordinates with Osan and the Army and Air Force Exchange Service to specially deliver these items.

In 2010, Mr. Kim saved more than $125,000 in rations with his quick thinking and detailed monitoring of assets during three power outages. He also reduced the squadron's not-in-stock food rates by 10 percent when he garnered food catalog training for them, teaching them changes in industry standards.

Mr. Kim also volunteered as a tour guide during an outdoor recreation hiking trip, securing the site and equipment for the trip and helping the participants reach new physical challenges.

Sergeants Saad and Piazza and Mr. Kim said they couldn't have achieved their awards without their family, friends and co-workers.

"The support of my family and loved ones, the guidance of my supervisors, and the respect of my peers and subordinates in the Air Force is a very powerful motivating force in my professional career," Sergeant Saad said. "I certainly couldn't have achieved any of the success that I have here without the hard work and dedication of the people here in the Wolf Pack. What makes the Pack stand out is just that: hard work, dedication and a wealth of professional experience and passion for instruction. Most POL [petroleum, oil and lubrication] guys don't get a lot of recognition for what we do because a lot of people say 'you're just doing your job.' It's nice to see that finally turn around and people are getting recognized for the hard work everyone's doing. Nothing I've ever accomplished came without teamwork."

"I was able to achieve this award by simply doing my job," Sergeant Piazza said. "I love this job because I'm able to help people, and I was proud that I didn't think I had any chance to win this award until I sat down to write the package. I didn't take anything on that I didn't feel passionate about; however, that is only half of the process. I have had incredible commanders who have allowed me to do my job, to the best of my ability, and given all of the support I needed. Lastly, the package that I wrote was not the package that was submitted. You have to have a commander and chief who are very good at presenting your accomplishments with the most impact: I happen to have the best leadership team at doing just that." "Without the support of my boss and coworkers, I believe that I couldn't accomplish this achievement," said Mr. Kim. "I believe that if you work hard anything is possible. I am grateful to have such wonderful co-workers who have pushed me to do better. I'd also like to give my thanks to my parents and God, whom I could rely on whenever I went through hard times."

Sergeants Saad and Piazza will now compete at the Air Force level to be named an Air Force Outstanding Performer of the Year.