Radar, Airfield & Weather Systems (RAWS)
Awards
Radar, Airfield and Weather Technician
Staff Sergeant Andrew S. Winfield distinguished himself by meritorious service while serving as Radar, Airfield and Weather Technician, 130th Engineering Installation Squadron (EIS), 151st Air Wing, Roland R Wright Air Base, Utah. During this period, Sergeant Winfield spearheaded the Air Force's premier Force Command Staff Engineering Installation initiative, orchestrating a $36,000 installation project that entailed constructing a 182-foot utility conduit. This strategic development not only readied a $150,000 facility but also significantly enhanced redundancy for two essential backbone networks, fortifying the infrastructure's reliability. Additionally, he led the innovative planning and rerouting of the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing's critical network backbone, circumventing the new Civil Engineering building's construction zone. Further, he rerouted 245,000 feet of live fiber optic cabling, ensuring the uninterrupted construction of the new $2,070,000 Civil Engineering (CE) building. This proactive approach prevented a costly four-month delay that would have arisen from a potential building redesign or relocation, showcasing exceptional foresight and project management acumen. The distinctive accomplishments of Sergeant Winfield reflect credit upon himself, the 130th Engineering Installations Squadron, the Utah Air National Guard, and the United States Air Force.
Radar Airfield Weather Systems Supervisor
Staff Sergeant Carlos D. Muniz distinguished himself by meritorious service while serving as Radar Airfield Weather Systems Supervisor, 612th Air Base Squadron, 612th Tactical Operations Group, Soto Cano Air Base, Honduras. During this period, Sergeant Muniz led seven technicians in completing over 210 Digital Airport Surveillance Radar (DASR) and Standard Terminal Automation Replacement System (STARS) maintenance actions, upholding a 99.5 percent uptime rate for the sole U.S. Air Traffic Control facility in Central America, guarding the southern approach and providing JIATF-South with a vital feed for anti-narcotics and contingency support missions. In addition, Sergeant Muniz exercised his initiative to qualify himself on 198 Airfield Systems maintenance tasks and was key in returning the VORTAC to service after five months following a catastrophic systems failure. Further, he established a positive rapport with local contractors and provided technical and historical maintenance information accurately in order to track and complete over 85 contract orders to sustain operations. The distinctive accomplishments of Sergeant Muniz reflect credit upon himself, the 612th Air Base Squadron and the United States Air Force.
Radar Airfield and Weather Systems Specialist
Staff Sergeant Patricia A. Brewer distinguished herself by meritorious service while serving as Radar Airfield and Weather Systems Specialist, 297th Air Traffic Control Squadron, 154th Operations Group, Kaloaloha, Hawaii. During this period, Sergeant Brewer identified and resolved a critical issue with the AN/MPN-14K Communications System, enhancing the reliability and security of the communications between Air Traffic Controllers and pilots and improving the safety and efficiency of air traffic operations. In addition, she designed a comprehensive 'train-the-trainer' checklist for RAWS maintenance, encompassing critical but previously overlooked systems such as DVDR, P2K, and GPS, significantly raising the training percentage of the maintenance work center by approximately 25 percent. Further, she procured vital TMDE replacements for critical RAWS systems, resulting in a sustained and notable 99.6 percent system readiness rate for essential air traffic operations. Finally, she served as a mentor at the Hawaii National Guard Youth Challenge Academy, fostering a culture of learning and personal growth and making a positive impact on many lives. The distinctive accomplishments of Sergeant Brewer reflect credit upon herself, the 297th Air Traffic Control Squadron and the United States Air Force.
Radar, Airfield and Weather System Craftsman
Staff Sergeant Nathan B. Cyr distinguished himself by meritorious service while serving as Radar, Airfield and Weather System Craftsman, 27th Special Operations Support Squadron, 27th Special Operations Wing, Cannon Air Force Base, New Mexico. During this period, Sergeant Cyr's technical skill proved invaluable when he performed an eight-hour system optimization on the weather radar which resolved a three-year system flaw, enhancing weather forecast capabilities for over one million residents. In addition, Sergeant Cyr analyzed and resolved a critical Air Traffic communications systems outage by coordinating with two squadrons and expediting the repair of seventy-two defective cables, restoring the 2,500 miles airspace communications link and air safety. Further, he led the timely execution and completion of 1,340 Radar, Airfield, and Weather Systems maintenance actions, attaining a ninety-nine percent uptime rate and contributing to the generation of more than three hundred 27th Special Operations Wing sorties. Finally, Sergeant Cyr's commitment to excellence contributed to his work center garnering the Air Force Special Operations Command LIMA Site team award three years in a row. The distinctive accomplishments of Staff Sergeant Cyr reflect credit upon himself, the 27th Special Operations Support Squadron, and the United States Air Force.