Aircraft Maintenance Awards

Production Superintendent

Master Sergeant Christopher M Alonzo distinguished himself by outstanding service while serving as Production Superintendent, 60th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, 60th Air Mobility Wing, Travis Air Force Base, California. During this period, Sergeant Alonzo led more than 360 active duty, Reserve, and civilian maintainers across eight Air Force Specialty Codes, directing launch, recovery, inspection, and repair operations for 18 C-5 aircraft valued at $6.3 billion. He was instrumental in generating 1,478 sorties and 7,234 flying hours that delivered 28 million pounds of cargo and 3,200 personnel across multiple Combatant Commands while sustaining a worldwide departure reliability rate above 78 percent, driving aborts below one percent, and reducing Total Non-Mission Capable Maintenance by 16 points. Additionally, he led 142 Airmen in the restoration of a long-term grounded aircraft by coordinating with three external agencies to resolve 2,000 discrepancies requiring 8,300 man-hours, eliminating 2,400 hours of downtime and returning the fleet to full mission capability. He further expedited the rebuild of three cannibalized aircraft by overseeing the replacement of 24 critical components, removing all from Hangar Queen status and enabling support to NASA and SpaceX missions, including the movement of $15.7 billion in satellite equipment and the airlift of 17 NASA rescue divers for Test Flight 11. Furthermore, he advanced joint-force interoperability by developing a helicopter support and sling-load program, previously created during his Contingency Response tenure, which was recognized by Air Mobility Command Commander General Mike Minihan for its innovation and mission impact. He directed high-tempo operations during Exercises GOLDEN PHOENIX and MOBILITY GUARDIAN, generating 173 flying hours and 41 sorties that delivered 350 tons of cargo, moved 221 personnel, and supported the deployment of 15,000 joint forces throughout the Pacific region, contributing to his unit earning multiple Production Team of the Year awards. He masterfully managed manpower, supply, and maintenance resources by overseeing more than 1,000 scheduled inspections, correcting 67 documentation discrepancies, resolving 35 administrative issues, and supporting 1,400 missions with zero dropped objects while sustaining a 99-percent scheduling effectiveness rate and increasing worldwide reliability by 11 percent. Moreover, he pioneered digital modernization by developing advanced monitoring tools and a real-time fleet status board, improving scheduling efficiency by 10 percent, enhancing decision-making, and elevating squadron readiness. Finally, he strengthened Airmen and the unit by mentoring 12 expediters and over 50 crew chiefs, serving as an Additional Duty First Sergeant, and ensuring fairness in three Enlisted Force Distribution Panels, improving morale, discipline, and cohesion across the squadron. The distinctive accomplishments of Master Sergeant Alonzo reflect great credit upon himself, the 60th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, and the United States Air Force.

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LO Section NCOIC & Production Superintendent

Technical Sergeant Samuel J Holt distinguished himself by outstanding achievement while serving as Low Observable (LO) Section NCOIC and Production Superintendent, 493rd Expeditionary Fighter Generation Squadron, 378th Maintenance Group, Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudia Arabia. During this period, Sergeant Holt served as Low Observable (LO) Section Noncommissioned Officer in Charge while filling in as Production Superintendent for the 493d Expeditionary Fighter Generation Squadron during Operation MIDNIGHT HAMMER, a mission two decades in planning. He directed the execution of all maintenance for 52 personnel across seven Air Force Specialty Codes: LO, Non-Destructive Inspection (NDI), Metals Technology (MT), Fuels, Egress, Wheel & Tire (W&T), and Aerospace Ground Equipment (AGE), supporting 12 deployed F-35A Lightning II aircraft in sustained combat operations under persistent hostile missile and drone threats.

Key Accomplishments:

• Served as the sole authority to certify F-35s Fully Mission Capable for LO readiness, a prerequisite for all combat taskings, ensuring mission-critical aircraft availability for the entire deployment.

• Led cross-service coordination with Marines to secure mission-essential parts and chemical trades through the F-35 supply system, enabling uninterrupted sortie generation.

• Partnered with Metals Technology to fabricate horizontal stabilizer pad stands, allowing simultaneous touch-up repairs without grounding individual aircraft or wasting chemicals—maximizing operational tempo.

• Personally performed all Outer Mold Line inspections on the aircraft tasked for MIDNIGHT HAMMER and executed a cracked gun skin repair, deferring depot induction and preserving combat capability.

• Directed team in completion of 32 canopy restorations preventing $11.2M in replacement costs, and led a signature reduction package eliminating 79 defects, reducing fleet radar signature from 39% to 0%.

• Utilized the only AFCENT-qualified NDI technician to perform F-35 blade inspections in theater; executed EOTS inspections for both Hill AFB and Marine Corps aircraft.

• Enabled the generation of 11 F-35s for 8 combat sorties within a 47-aircraft strike package, delivering decisive effects against Iranian nuclear capability.

• Contributed to theater-wide output of 801 combat sorties, 3,526 hours, and 11 munitions employed, sustaining fifth-generation air dominance across Operations INHERENT RESOLVE and PROSPERITY GUARDIAN.

Impact:

Sergeant Holt's leadership and cross-domain coordination ensured the flawless execution of a high-risk, historic combat mission. His actions preserved fleet health, maximized sortie generation, and directly enabled combat effects critical to U.S. and coalition objectives. His innovation, resource management, and technical oversight set the benchmark for integrated fifth-generation operations in a contested theater.

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Section Chief

Master Sergeant Shane R. Lennon distinguished himself by outstanding service while serving as Section Chief, 446th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, 446th Air Wing, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington. During this period, Master Sergeant Lennon demonstrated his exceptional management skills while assigning reserve members to meet critical taskings in support of Overseas Contingency Operations. He facilitated more than four thousand Military Personnel Authorization days in 2010 which proved key to meeting all home station backfill requirements. Additionally, Sergeant Lennon instructed six Senior Noncommissioned Officers on the administration of the unit's Operational Risk Management program. His comprehensive approach and personal example pushed safe decision making throughout the organization, resulting in zero flight line mishaps in 2011. Lastly, Master Sergeant Lennon spearheaded a training review in preparation for the 2012 Air Force Inspector General Nuclear Surety Inspection. His foresight and actions to enforce compliance were indispensable to the squadron receiving a "Satisfactory" rating, the highest possible grade. The singularly distinctive accomplishments of Master Sergeant Lennon reflect great credit upon himself, the 446th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, and the United States Air Force.