Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska - Master Sgt. Ariel Martin, a staff accountant for the 176th Comptroller Flight, receives his award plaque from Brig. Gen. Charles Foster, commander of the 176th Wing and Chief Master Sgt. David Streit, command chief of the 176th Wing during the 176th Wing's annual awards ceremony, Apr. 16, 2011. Martin was the 2010 outstanding unit member of the year for the comptroller Flight. Alaska Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Shannon Oleson

176th Wing honors top acheivers

  • Published
  • By MSgt Shannon Oleson
  • 176th Wing Public Affairs
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska --  On April 17 -- part of just the second drill weekend for the 176th Wing after relocating here from Kulis Air National Guard Base -- the wing hosted its Annual Awards Ceremony and Hometown Heroes Salute in the Talkeetna Theater.

"The ceremony was a good way to continue our great start here at JBER -- by honoring our top achievers," said Brig. Gen. Charles Foster, commander of the 176th Wing.

While the Annual Awards Ceremony is not new, the Hometown Heroes Salute is. This was only the second year for the award, which recognizes guard members who have deployed 30 or more consecutive days in support of a contingency operation since Sept. 11, 2001, as well as their families and employers. There are three tiers for the Hometown Heroes award: Tier One is for members who were deployed for 30 to 179 days on a single deployment; Tier Two is for members who were deployed for 180 and 365 days on a single deployment; and Tier Three is for members who were deployed for more than 366 days on a single deployment.


The following were the 176th Wing's 2010 award recipients.


Hometown Heroes

Tier 1

SSgt Laconya M. Adams, 176 LRS

SrA Jason T. Engle, 249 AS

Lt Col John P. Harrington, 176 LRS

A1C Whitney D. Lowell, 176 SFS

SSgt Corry J. Mathews, 176 CES

1Lt Ryan N. McGrail, 249 AS

TSgt James D. Pasquale, 176 LRS

TSgt Theodore J. Sullivan, 176 SFS

SSgt Christopher L. Tidwell, 176 MXS

SSgt David O. Williams, 176 LRS

SrA Allen M. Wilson, 176 FSF


Tier 2 Recipients

Maj Christopher T. Borger, 176 LRS

TSgt Amanda B. Boswell, 176 MDG

SSgt Justin D. Bradley, 176 SFS

TSgt Christopher J. Brunner, 176 AS

TSgt Jorge A. Camarillo, 176 SFS

Lt Col Richard A. Cavens, 176 WG

SSgt John P. Charron, 176 LRS

A1C Julie A. Charron, 176 FSF

SrA Eric N. Cox, 249 AS

Lt Col John M. Darnall, 176 WG

SSgt Franz D. Deters, 176 SFS

TSgt Brandon M. Durocher, 176 LRS

SSgt Seth A. England, 176 MXS

SSgt Salvador Estrada, 176 SFS

TSgt Anthony M. Funsch, 176 SFS

SSgt Travis R. Garrison, 176 SFS

TSgt David M. Haupt, 176 SFS

TSgt Chelsea M.K. Johnson, 176 LRS

MSgt Everett F. Johnson, AANG-HQ

SSgt Jacob J. Jones, 176 SFS

SSgt Daniel R. Krueger, 176 MXS

TSgt Lawrence F. Lacroix, 176 LRS

TSgt Shynowah L. Lee, 176 MDG

A1C Josef R. Lenz, 176 LRS

TSgt Jason E. Ott, 176 LRS

SrA Susie A. Ramsey, 176 LRS

TSgt Amy M. Robinson, 176 SFS

SSgt Brian C. Rowbotham, 176 MXS

Amn Braxton M. Smith, 176 SFS

SrA Christopher A. Smith, 176 SFS

Sra Josiah S. Taylor, 176 SFS

A1C John F. Teamer, 176 SFS

SSgt Jessica M. Tiihonen, 176 SFS

TSgt Patrick A. Wakefield, 176 SFS

A1C Jacob S. Weatherby, 176 SFS

MSgt Eric M. Welling, 176 LRS


2010 Distinguished Wing Award Winners

Lt Col Patty Wilbanks, 176th Maintenance Group
Lindemuth Leadership Award

A1C Gregory Keffer, 176th Security Forces Squadron
Airman of the Year

TSgt Jonathan T. Diel, 176th Communications Flight
Noncommissioned Officer of the Year

MSgt Pamela A. Brunner, 176th Maintenance Operations Flight
Senior Noncommissioned Officer of the Year

Capt Christopher Rishko, 176th Air Control Squadron
Company Grade Officer of the Year

Maj Keolani Bailey, 176th Air Control Squadron
Field Grade Officer of the Year

MSgt Janet S. Lemmons, 176th Civil Engineer Squadron
First Sergeant of the Year

MSgt Janet S. Lemmons, 176th Civil Engineer Squadron
Alaska State First Sergeant of the Year

A1C Gregory Keffer, 176th Security Forces Squadron
Alaska State Airman of the Year

176th Air Control Squadron
Commander's Award for Organizational Excellence


2010 Outstanding Unit Members Of The Year

176th Maintenance Group

LtCol David W. Ham
176th Maintenance Group

MSgt James W. Asselin
176th Maintenance Squadron

MSgt Thomas J. Cubit
176th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron

MSgt Pamela A. Brunner
176th Maintenance Operations Flight


SSgt Stephanie L. Manning
176th Operations Group

MSgt Kelly J. Gordon
176th Operations Support Squadron

SSgt Zachary R. Darnell
176th Aircraft Control Squadron

1Lt Gary M. Weir
144th Airlift Squadron

SSgt Elijah P. B. Wamack
210th Rescue Squadron

SSgt Jherenmichel B. Svoboda
210th Rescue Squadron Det 1

TSgt David A. Alborne
211th Rescue Squadron

MSgt Roger D. Sparks
212th Rescue Squadron

Maj Krista N. Staff
249th Airlift Squadron

MSgt Gloria A. Rucker
176th Mission Support Group

SMSgt Adam C. Blaum
176th Force Support Flight

TSgt Christopher L. Block
176th Services Flight

SMSgt Scott C. Belyea
176th Civil Engineer Squadron

TSgt David M. Pepper
176th Security Forces Squadron

SMSgt James A. Assenmacher
176th Communications Flight

Capt Luke B. Davis
176th Logistics Readiness Squadron

TSgt Richard J. Cardenas
176th Medical Group

SSgt Tiffany R. Knight
176th Wing

MSgt Ariel O. Martin
176th Comptroller Flight


2010 Recognition of Exceptional Performance

National Energy Incentive Award
176th Wing

Base Communications ANG Excellence Award
MSgt Chad Demro, 176th Communications Flight

3rd Wing Total Force Outstanding Team
TSgt Michelle A. Davidson, A1C Ferdie B. Villaflores
and SrA Kylie M. Lippert, Aircrew Flight Equipment Team,

176th Operations Support Squadron
Air Force Association Outstanding Flying Unit Award
176th Operations Group

NCOA Distinguished Graduate and Academic Award Recipient
MSgt Jason A. Jason Apalategui, 144th Airlift Squadron

NCOA Vanguard Award
TSgt Matthew J. Schrader, 212th Rescue Squadron

ASEV "Excellent"
176th Operations Group

NCOA Distinguished Graduate and Commandant Award
TSgt Thomas C. Hough, 144th Airlift Squadron

ANG Sustainment Services Flight of the Year
176th Sustainment Services Flight

NCO of the Year for Alaska NORAD Region
SSgt Zachary R. Darnell, 176th Air Control Squadron
Outstanding Cyber Transport Systems NCO
TSgt Jonathan T. Diel, 176th Communications Flight

Lieutenant General Harold W. Grant Award
176th Communications Flight

ANG Human Resource Advisor of the Year
SMSgt William B. Yockell, 176th Wing

Jolly Green Association Rescue Mission of the Year Award
33d Rescue Squadron and the 212th Rescue Squadron