Electronic Warfare Citations

Flight Commander

Captain Henry N Schmaltz distinguished himself by meritorious service while serving as Flight Commander, Intelligence Training and Exercises Flight, 721st Operations Support Squadron, Space Delta 3, Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado. During this period, Captain Schmaltz performed a critical role in standing up the United States Space Force by creating the first space electronic warfare intelligence training program. He defined the model for intelligence mission qualification training, instructing over two hundred hours across four course iterations, certifying twenty three analysts as combat mission ready. Captain Schmaltz expanded threat-driven operations across the ten billion dollar electronic warfare enterprise through advanced training and warfighter integration for over five hundred and seventy personnel across five operations squadrons. He also shaped the future of the United States Space Force's Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance formal training through the identification and alignment of one hundred and fifty mission critical tasks, building the foundation for next generation space operations. Additionally, he directed the creation of an exercise integration division, and also initiated a multi-organization collaboration effort which catalyzed electronic warfare operations for United States Space Command. Furthermore, Captain Schmaltz was recognized for his outstanding performance and initiative, winning the squadron's Company Grade Officer of the Second Quarter, and securing a total of fourteen squadron, three group, one wing, and one major command level award across his eight-person flight. The distinctive accomplishments of Captain Schmaltz reflect credit upon himself, the 721st Operations Support Squadron and the United States Space Force.

Electronic Warfare Intelligence Analyst

Senior Airman Kelby N Gray distinguished herself by meritorious service while serving as Electronic Warfare Intelligence Analyst, 721st Operations Support Squadron, 21st Space Wing, Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado. During this period, Airman Gray performed a critical role in standing up the squadron and ensuring sustainable readiness through the creation of the first electronic warfare-centric intelligence mission qualification training program. She identified 231 tasks and instructed over 40 hours across four classes, bringing 19 analysts to combat mission ready certification. She expanded threat-driven operations across the 9.7 billion dollar electronic warfare enterprise through advanced training and warfighter integration for over 400 personnel across five operations squadrons, equipping 220 joint personnel for deployments in three areas of responsibility. Additionally, she crafted 44 tailored briefs for the wing commander, providing value-added analysis and shaping organize, train, equip, and deployment decisions. Furthermore, she was recognized for her outstanding performance and initiative, winning the 2019 Airmen of the Third and Fourth Quarter Award at the Group level, the 2019 Airman of the Year Award at the Squadron level, and earning an extremely competitive Senior Airman Below-the-Zone slot. The distinctive accomplishments of Airman Gray reflect credit upon herself, the 721st Operations Support Squadron, and the United States Space Force.

Flight Commander, Weapons and Tactics

Captain Marcus G. Fairchild distinguished himself by meritorious service as Flight Commander, Weapons and Tactics, 4th Space Control Squadron, Space Delta 3, Peterson-Schriever Space Force Base, Colorado. During this period, the outstanding professional skill, leadership, and ceaseless efforts of Captain Fairchild resulted in major contributions to the effectiveness and success of the squadron's training, exercises, and deployments. Additionally, as a master of operational integration, he initiated tactical revisions to bolster extremist targeting capabilities in multiple combatant commands, resulting in the tracking and capture of twelve high-value targets. Moreover, he streamlined his unit's development of tactical experts to simplify processes to develop exercise controllers, line tacticians, and ensure squadron-wide knowledge of operational integration into the joint conflict. Furthermore, he led tiger teams in Air and Special Operations Centers to revise two expeditionary units' command and control processes which enabled his teams to immediately provide electronic warfare effects to over twenty troops-in-contact events, ultimately protecting over seventeen thousand American, French, Nigerien, and NATO combat forces. Finally, he developed new methods to provide intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance for hostage rescue efforts which filled a critical intelligence gap with real-time extremist activity and location data, directly leading to a French Special Operation Forces raid on a kidnap-for-ransom network camp and the rescue of two French citizens. The superior efforts of Captain Fairchild resulted in his personal selection as Headquarters Space Force Space Electronic Warfare Company Grade Officer of the Year and his expeditionary unit's win as the Air Force Associations Best Space Crew of 2019. The singularly distinctive accomplishments of Captain Fairchild reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Space Force.

Deputy Chief, Combat Operations Divison

Lieutenant Colonel Nathan D. Boardman distinguished himself by meritorious service while serving as Deputy Chief, Combat Operations Divison, 614th Air Operations Center, 14th Air Force, Vandenberg Air Force Base, California. During this period, Colonel Boardman led the 103-member Combat Operations Division during its largest mission transfer, spearheading a multi-domain integration effort culminating in the refocus of space command and control support to theater operations. He shepherded combat operations during 4,800 space support requests, enabling 2,659 missile and aircraft strikes, and resulting in the elimination of 2,400 high value targets. Further, his leadership was vital to the transition of the Joint Space Operations Center to a combined construct whereby he directed analysis and mitigated risk for 37 tasks, resulting in the first ever certification of Canadian crew members providing space support to theater operations. Finally, Colonel Boardman's guidance was pivotal to the reorganization of vault operations, directing the development of a new crew position, certifying 12 operators, resulting in the first-ever execution of Electronic Warfare from the Combined Space Operations Center floor, meeting the 4-star Joint Force Space Component Commander's intent in less that two months. The distinctive accomplishments of Lieutenant Colonel Boardman reflect credit upon himself, 14th Air Force, and the United States Air Force.

Support Section Supervisor

Staff Sergeant Robert M Johnson distinguished himself by meritorious service while serving as Support Section Supervisor, 27th Special Operations Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, 27th Special Operations Wing, Cannon Air Force Base, New Mexico. During this period, Sargent Johnson expeditiously applied his subject matter expertise, completing three Low Probability Intercept TCTOs 15-days before his project suspense, garnering the unit a 99% mission effectiveness rate in fiscal year 2013. His leadership abilities enabled him to troubleshoot and repair a UHF radio malfunction, saving the Air Force 108,000 dollars in replacement costs while solidifying the generation of 1,024 sorties. Furthermore, as lead communications and navigation technician, Sergeant Johnson identified a fleet-wide radar crypto error. His relentless dedication and fortitude led to the repair of a cursor panel, beating his suspense by 45 minutes, saving the extraction mission of 71 Airborne Rangers from imminent danger. Moreover, he led the Electronic Warfare team in the transfer of 110 items valued at 2.8 million dollars, in a 48-hour period. His efficient actions aided in the success of an Operation Enduring Freedom mission, delivering an on-time delivery of 13,000 pounds of mission critical assets. Finally, Sergeant Johnson's troubleshooting skills led to the success of a seek and destroy mission on underground enemy bunkers and passage tunnels hidden deep in the Afghanistan mountains. The distinctive accomplishments of Staff Sergeant Johnson reflect credit upon himself, the 27th Special Operations Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, and the United States Air Force.

Electronic Warfare System Craftsman

Staff Sergeant Nathan R. Montieth distinguished himself by outstanding achievement while serving as Electronic Warfare System Craftsman, 15th Expeditionary Special Operations Squadron, Ali Al Salem Air Base, Kuwait. During this period, with only six days notice, Sergeant Monteith deployed to Ali Al Salem Air Base from July 28th to December 15th 2019. The professional skill, leadership, and ceaseless efforts of Sergeant Monteith contributed to the effectiveness and success of Air Force Special Operations Command's no-fail mission. Under austere conditions, he repeatedly diagnosed and repaired multiple connectors that caused erratic and false missile launch indications that prevented extremely critical missions from being accomplished. His expert, around the clock competency kept Electronic Warfare systems fully operational, provided safe flight for 32 aircrew members, and resulted in the accomplishment of a highly classified mission. The distinctive accomplishments of Staff Sergeant Montieth reflect great credit upon himself, the 15th Special Operations Squadron and the United States Air Force.

Electronic Warfare Officer

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Air Force Cross to Derek S. Kistler, Captain, U.S. Air Force, for extraordinary heroism in military operations against an opposing armed force while serving as an Electronic Warfare Officer with the 35th Tactical Fighter Wing, during Operation DESERT STORM on 19 January 1991. On that date, Captain Kistler was the backseater on Stroke 3, a sixteen-ship package of F-16s tasked with bombing an oil refinery near Baghdad. While en route, the strike team discovered an unexpected battery of active enemy SA-2 missile sites. During the next two hours he was forced to take command of his aircraft when his pilot lost consciousness. He risked his life as he had to fly evasive maneuvers and deploy electronic countermeasures to avoid being shot down by enemy fire from six consecutive surface-to-air missile attacks. It was his superior airmanship and his masterful techniques that made this mission survival possible - the first in the history of the F-16 weapons system. Through his extraordinary heroism, superb airmanship, and aggressiveness in the face of the enemy, Captain Kistler reflected the highest credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.

Special Operations Data Analyst

First Lieutenant William Tyler Davis distinguished himself by meritorious service as Special Operations Data Analyst while assigned to 413th Flight Test Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Florida and 46th Test Squadron, 46th Operations Group, 46th Test Wing, Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. During this period, the steadfast leadership and ceaseless efforts of Lieutenant Davis were essential to the effectiveness and success of test programs supporting combined operations, Army Special Forces, Air Combat Command, and Air Force Special Operations. As the Lead Test Engineer for the F-16 Block 60 Radar Warning Receiver upgrade, Lieutenant Davis scheduled and controlled 26 electronic warfare missions against air defense systems, verifying crucial self protection capabilities for our allies in the CENTAF Area of Responsibility. In addition, he led the test and evaluation of the MH-60 missile defense countermeasures, supporting a short-notice defensive system upgrade for Army Special Forces, enabling troop insertions into hostile territory. Further, as the lead analyst for the 55 million dollar MC-130H terrain-following radar upgrade, Lieutenant Davis processed 110 hours of data from over 30 test missions, enhancing the low-level, all-weather delivery of personnel and equipment into combat theaters. Finally, he was instrumental in the development of the C-130J aerial refueling system, providing key information used to select the variable speed drogue vendor. The distinctive accomplishments of Lieutenant Davis reflect credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.

Electronic Warfare Branch Chief

Lieutenant Colonel VaShon D. Moore distinguished himself in the performance of outstanding service to the United States in various positions culminating as Electronic Warfare Branch Chief, Electronic Warfare and Avionics Division, Agile Combat Support Directorate, Robins Air Force Base, Georgia from 14 December 2009 to 1 February 2013. During this period, Colonel Moore's professional skill and ceaseless efforts delivered critical aircrew equipment, propulsion, and electronic warfare product support to warfighters. As Chief of Operations, Life Support and Propulsion Branch, Support Equipment and Vehicles Division, Colonel Moore engineered a no-cost oxygen regulator repair that cut turn times 70 percent and reduced in-theater failures by 85 percent. Additionally, he secured approval for a 73 million dollar hush house repair contract that reduced mean-time-to-repair from months to days, and expedited engine test stand certification, enabling an A-10 unit to deploy mission-ready. He also corrected flawed shelf-life rules for chemical protection suits, resulting in a 120 million dollar life-cycle savings. Further, as Electronic Warfare Branch Chief, Colonel Moore completed an eight month effort awarding a 70 million dollar quick-reaction support contract two weeks early, preventing a gap in support for Red Flag training and special mission aircraft missile warning systems. Finally, he resolved towed decoy reliability issues and executed a rapid six million dollar chip buy, preserving Air Combat Command's opportunity to replace decoys expended in operations over Libya. The singularly distinctive accomplishments of Colonel Moore reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.