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Avionics Citations
Staff Sergeant Michael A Cosnek distinguished himself by meritorious service while serving as Heavy Aircraft Integrated Avionics Craftsman, 147th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron, Ramon, Israel. During this period, Sergeant Cosnek demonstrated exceptional leadership and initiative in support of deployed maintenance operations. He led the acquisition of critical protective equipment, enhancing maintainer safety and situational awareness during aircraft maintenance. He spearheaded coordination between Maintenance Production, Operations leadership, and avionics personnel to optimize the allocation of limited aircraft parts and maximize fleet readiness. Additionally, he orchestrated the allocation of shop resources and manpower through management of launch schedules, maintenance teams, shift assignments, and red-ball support. When called upon, Sergeant Cosnek served as shop lead, providing steady leadership and ensuring mission requirements were successfully executed. The distinctive accomplishments of Sergeant Cosnek reflect great credit upon himself, the 147th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron, and the United States Air Force.
Staff Sergeant Malcom Flumo distinguished himself by meritorious service while serving as Avionics Journeyman, 756th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron, Israel. Sergeant Flumo spearheaded the completion of thirty six Time Compliance Technical Order 2050 and 2051 upgrades, contributing to over 576 maintenance hours toward critical Enhanced Traffic Collision Avoidance System, allowing for the safeguarding of aircrew and ensuring fleet wide operational compliance within CENTCOM operations. In addition, he responded to 11 emergent pilot discrepancies, allowing for on-time generation of aircraft in support of operation EPIC FURY. His tireless dedication directly enabled more than 1,700 sorties, 5,000 receivers, and offloaded over 83 million pounds of fuels, all while sustaining operations through 175+ Alarm Red conditions and 700+ inbound missile events within the AOR. The distinctive accomplishments of Sergeant Flumo reflect great credit upon himself, the 756th Air Refueling Squadron, and the United States Air Force.
Master Sergeant Kevin J. Hoegle distinguished himself by meritorious service while serving as Heavy Aircraft Integrated Avionics Craftsman, 147th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron, Ramon, Israel. During this period, while placed at significant risk of hostile action, Sergeant Hoegle, while serving as the Avionics Lead, displayed a genius of the highest order while maintaining avionics and communications systems on deployed KC-135 aircraft. Exemplifying technical acumen and an attitude aligned with Seneca's maxim that gold is tried by fire, he overcame complex and nuanced electronic system anomalies through sheer intellectual labor and devotion to the scientific method. Notably, he discovered a damaged wire inside of an armored shell, akin to finding a needle in a haystack, permanently resolving a chronic, intermittent electronic horizontal situation indicator fault. Further, demonstrating considerable technical acuity, Sergeant Hoegle rapidly diagnosed a critical vertical gyroscope failure on an in-flight return to base maintenance emergency; executing immediate ad hoc troubleshooting with engines running, he returned the aircraft to flying status within ten minutes. Finally, Sergeant Hoegle's profound experience, problem solving, and unwavering stoicism served as the cornerstone for every operational success achieved by the Ramon Avionics Section during Operation EPIC FURY. The distinctive accomplishments of Master Sergeant Hoegle reflect great credit upon himself, the 147th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron and the United States Air Force.
Staff Sergeant Joseph Jones distinguished himself by meritorious service while serving as Avionics Journeyman, 756th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron, Israel. Sergeant Jones demonstrated exceptional innovation and adaptability while operating in an austere combat environment. He troubleshot and repaired multiple month long Fuel system discrepancies and his unflagging dedication directly impacted the recovery of a fallen F-15 pilot within enemy territory. In addition, he responded to 17 emergent pilot discrepancies, allowing for the on-time aircraft generation in support of operation EPIC FURY. Further, he spearheaded seven ghost shield systems and multiple Real time information in cockpit installations which proved vital to counteract electronic warfare within the AOR while sustaining operations through 175+ Alarm Red conditions and 700+ inbound missile events. His tireless dedication directly enabled more than 1,700 sorties, 5,000 receivers, and offloaded over 83 million pounds of fuels. The distinctive accomplishments of Sergeant Jones reflect great credit upon himself, the 756th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron and the United States Air Force.
Master Sergeant Stephen D. Parise distinguished himself by meritorious service while serving as Heavy Aircraft Integrated Avionics Craftsman, 147th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron, Ramon, Israel. During this period, while placed at significant risk of hostile action, Sergeant Parise demonstrated superior intellect, unmatched reasoning, and extraordinary technical mastery as Avionics Section Supervisor. A true maintenance force of nature, Sergeant Parise's "intellectually berserk" approach smashed through complex challenges using innovative, non-linear troubleshooting methods. His overarching oversight and direct involvement across all avionics maintenance activities ensured rapid fault isolation, increased aircraft reliability, and strengthened mission readiness. Sergeant Parise's elite diagnostic abilities proved vital when he identified a heat-related anomaly causing intermittent flight display issues. Through exceptional logic, he correctly deduced the component would not fail during nighttime operations due to cooler temperatures, exposing an elusive failure. Additionally, his relentless attention to detail discovered deformed pitot static ports later confirmed during inspection, identifying a critical condition affecting multiple flight systems. Sergeant Parise's powerful combination of intellect, innovation, and unstoppable drive elevated maintenance operations and directly contributed to mission success. The distinctive accomplishments of Master Sergeant Parise reflect great credit upon himself, the 147th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron and the United States Air Force.
Staff Sergeant Grant C Slopek distinguished himself by meritorious service while serving as Heavy Aircraft Integrated Avionics Craftsman, 147th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron, Ramon, Israel. During this period, Sergeant Slopek demonstrated superior technical expertise and leadership by spearheading troubleshooting efforts on recurring Inertial Navigation Unit drift and attitude discrepancies affecting multiple KC-135 aircraft. Through detailed analysis of maintenance trends and operational data, he identified indicators of electronic warfare interference within the area of responsibility, providing critical findings to aircrew and leadership that directly enhanced mission awareness and aircraft navigation reliability. Additionally, he excelled as a deployed shop lead, expertly directing maintenance operations while expanding his expertise into COMM/NAV systems. His initiative and technical proficiency enabled the rapid resolution of numerous RTIC, communications, and LAIRCM discrepancies, significantly improving aircraft availability and combat mission capability. Sergeant Slopek's professionalism, dedication, and unwavering commitment to mission success earned the trust and respect of his peers, supervisors, and supported aircrew. The distinctive accomplishments of Sergeant Slopek reflect great credit upon himself, the 147th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron and the United States Air Force.
Staff Sergeant Jakari J Sutton-Alston distinguished himself by meritorious service while serving as Avionics Craftsman, 756th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron, Israel. Sergeant Sutton-Alston exhibited exceptional leadership and technical expertise while deployed in support of Operation EPIC FURY. Despite enduring more than 175 Alarm Red conditions and over 700 inbound missile events, he directed critical maintenance recovery efforts, resolving over 90 emergency aircraft discrepancies with a 98 percent success rate and ensuring zero mission cancellations in a hostile combat environment. Additionally, his superior performance and his unwavering dedication earned recognition as a top performer throughout the entire CENTCOM AOR and was coined personally by CENTCOM Commander, Admiral Brad Cooper. Furthermore, Sergeant Sutton-Alston coordinated with personnel across multiple maintenance squadrons to complete Time Compliance Technical Orders 2050 and 2051 on the entire KC-135R fleet within three weeks, significantly accelerating aircraft survivability and mission readiness objectives. Finally, his leadership and mission focus directly enabled more than 1,700 combat sorties, supported 5,000 receiver aircraft, and facilitated the offload of over 83 million pounds of fuel in support of joint and coalition combat operations throughout the AOR. The distinctive accomplishments of Sergeant Sutton-Alston reflect great credit upon himself, the 756th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron and the United States Air Force.
Senior Airman Dayanna Tweggs distinguished herself by meritorious service while serving as KC-135 Avionics Technician, 756th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron, 459th Air Refueling Wing, Israel. Airman Tweggs distinguished herself through exceptional leadership, technical expertise, and diplomacy while deployed in support of contingency operations. She spearheaded a multinational morale event fostering cooperation and strengthening relationships between United States and Israeli military forces, positively impacting more than 400 personnel and enhancing coalition partnership in a hostile environment through her unwavering professionalism and exemplary demeanor. Additionally, she expertly resolved an Embedded GPS/Inertial Navigation System alignment failure caused by enemy electronic warfare activity, restoring mission capability for an operation that directly supported the recovery of two missing personnel in hostile territory and the generation of more than 150 aircraft sorties. Furthermore, Airman Tweggs led the rapid implementation of Traffic Collision Avoidance System Time Compliance Technical Orders across the CENTCOM fleet, enabling over 70 aircraft to safely conduct air-to-air operations while maintaining mission readiness and aircrew safety. Her distinctive accomplishments reflect great credit upon herself, the 756th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron and the United States Air Force.
Technical Sergeant Dennis Z Vargas distinguished himself by meritorious service while serving as KC-135 Avionics Technician, 756th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron, 459th Air Refueling Wing, Israel. Sergeant Vargas demonstrated exceptional leadership while directing wing-wide avionics operations in support of combat missions throughout the CENTCOM area of responsibility. He coordinated multiple squadrons in the integration and fielding of Real Time Information in the Cockpit and Ghost Shield systems, strengthening aircraft survivability and ensuring reliable operations against enemy warfare threats. Despite operating through more than 175 Alarm Red conditions and over 700 inbound missile events, he led maintenance teams in resolving over 1,400 emergency pilot discrepancies and executing more than 500 maintenance actions, sustaining combat-ready aircraft across the theater. His leadership and mission focus directly enabled more than 1,700 combat sorties, 5,000 receiver aircraft, and the offload of over 83 million pounds of fuel while supporting operations that contributed to the safe recovery of a downed F-15 pilot and coalition combat actions, resulting in the destruction of over 155 hostile vessels and more than 13,000 enemy targets. Technical Sergeant Vargas' distinctive accomplishments reflect great credit upon himself, the 756th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron and the United States Air Force.
Technical Sergeant Michael G. Waigand distinguished himself by meritorious service while serving as Heavy Aircraft Integrated Avionics Craftsman, 147th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron, Ramon, Israel. During this period, while placed at significant risk of hostile action, Sergeant Waigand proved instrumental in advancing the Avionics Section's transition into a unified maintenance force. As one of the section's premier multi-discipline technicians, he embraced the integration of Guidance and Control and Communication Navigation specialties, becoming a critical bridge between two highly technical career fields. His superior system knowledge and adaptability directly increased maintenance flexibility and enhanced overall aircraft availability. Sergeant Waigand's extensive expertise proved vital across multiple avionics platforms, where he led complex fault isolation efforts on guidance and control systems while simultaneously expanding his proficiency on emerging communication and defensive capabilities, including Real Time Information in the Cockpit and Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasure systems. His willingness to master unfamiliar systems, share technical knowledge, and attack challenges outside traditional specialty boundaries embodied the future of integrated avionics maintenance. Technical Sergeant Waigand's distinctive accomplishments reflect great credit upon himself, the 147th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron and the United States Air Force.
Staff Sergeant Ryan D. Nestor distinguished himself by meritorious service as a Communication Navigation Mission Systems Craftsman, 22d Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, 22d Maintenance Group, Mcconnell Air Force Base, Kansas. During this period, Sergeant Nestor deployed for 125 days to Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar in support of Operations INHERENT RESOLVE and FREEDOM'S SENTINEL. His dedication and skill supported 2,800 sorties, 19,000 flight hours, and the offload of 99 million pounds of fuel to 8,000 Joint service receivers. Additionally, Sergeant Nestor showcased his technical expertise during a pre-flight anomaly for an inoperative flight situational awareness system. He quickly identified and repaired a system wiring harness, ensuring the on-time take off for the aircrew and 26 deploying Airmen on board. Finally, Sergeant Nestor's organizational and leadership abilities were critical in the creation of the delivery inspection criteria for the KC-46 Pegasus. He led a maintenance team through 105 inspection items, coordinating nine acceptance procedure corrections with Air Mobility Command, streamlining the process for future aircraft deliveries, and culminating in two Team of the Quarter awards. The distinctive accomplishments of Sergeant Nestor reflect credit upon himself, the 22d Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, and the United States Air Force.
Senior Airman Glenn J. Pease distinguished himself by meritorious service while serving as Comm/Nav Mission Systems Specialist, 7th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, 7th Maintenance Group, Dyess Air Force Base, Texas. During this period, Airman Pease responded to six red balls and corrected 37 discrepancies, contributing to the success of Exercise Iron Falcon and strengthening military relations with five Gulf states. Additionally, Airman Pease performed over one thousand maintenance actions and completed sixty Identify Friend or Foe checks and twenty inspections. He teamed with the weapons and fuel cell sections to restore targeting capabilities to aircraft, resulting in the destruction of enemy anti-aircraft artillery, the completion of ninety kill-box missions, and the destruction of an ISIS stronghold. Furthermore, Airman Pease deployed to Guam for Continuous Bomber Presence, where he executed 300 repairs and corrected a multi-function display malfunction in support of fifteen on-time take-offs for Higher Headquarters Missions. Finally, Airman Pease successfully troubleshot an advanced targeting pod power issue, identifying a faulty power supply, saving the Air Force 4.8 million dollars in lost assets. The distinctive accomplishments of Airman Pease reflect credit upon himself, the 7th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron and the United States Air Force.
Staff Sergeant Matthew G Guertin distinguished himself by meritorious service while serving as Avionics Systems Journeyman, 192nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, 192nd Fighter Wing, Langley Air Force Base, Virginia. During this time frame, Sergeant Guertin corrected multiple Communication, Navigation, and Identification (CNI) date and time failures, resulting in full mission capability for aircrew. Additionally, he finalized over 200 maintenance and servicing actions while passing three straight Qualify Assurance evaluations and two Personal Evaluations which aided in the section's 100% overall passing rate for four straight months. Further, he took on a leadership role by leading a standoff repair team action that consisted of removing a Generator Distribution Center (GDC) while training three Airmen. This action avoided an Electrical Power System (EPS) catastrophe that could have damaged the aircraft and caused further maintenance. Finally, Sergeant Guertin participated in and supported the Meals on Wheels charity, delivering 45 meals to elderly Veterans and boosting the unit's community outreach for the Virginia Air National Guard. The distinctive accomplishments of Sergeant Guertin reflect credit upon himself, the 192nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, and the United States Air Force.
Senior Airman Aaron R Deloach distinguished himself by meritorious service while serving as Avionics Journeyman, 13th Aircraft Maintenance Unit, 35th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, 35th Fighter Wing, Misawa Air Base, Japan. Airman Deloach demonstrated excellence and integrity during his two years stationed at Misawa Air Base. His maintenance brilliance was paramount in the success of exercise Cope North 21. During this exercise, he led Radar Warning Receiver (RWR) troubleshooting and repaired multiple wire anomalies to a DF receiver which was instrumental in achieving 100% combat capabilities for the participating aircraft. His leadership abilities led to the combat loading of RWR and ALE-47 Airborne Countermeasures Dispenser for Beverly Sunrise 21, completing six upgrades, and was key to mission success for the real-world exercise. The collective endeavors of Airman Deloach led to his section being awarded the 2019 35th Fighter Wing Team of the Year, the squadron winning the 2020 Pacific Air Forces Maintenance Effectiveness Award, and the Maintenance Group earning the 2020 Clements McMullen Memorial Daedalian Weapon System Award at the Air Force level for the first time in history. The distinctive accomplishments of Airman Deloach reflect credit upon himself, the 35th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron and the United States Air Force.
Captain Daniel B. Connolly distinguished himself by meritorious service while serving as B-1 Avionics Engineer, 554th Aircraft Sustainment Squadron, 427th Aircraft Sustainment Group, 327th Aircraft Sustainment Wing, Tinker Air force Base, Oklahoma. During this period, Captain Connolly managed facility modifications that increased workloads, group transformation and six-sigma processes supporting automated test systems utilized for Air Force depot repair of C-17, C-130, and B-1 avionics. Captain Connolly's expertise and leadership were instrumental in overseeing and validating contractor compliance with performance parameters on numerous facility and equipment upgrade projects. He demonstrated superior acquisition expertise in the management of all B-1 nose radome initiatives. Recognizing the lack of serviceable assets, he initiated an interim contract to establish test and repair capability to sustain the mission. Further, working with Boeing, he developed a nose radome test system procurement specification and implemented it by constructing a radome and antenna core required organic compact range. The singularly distinctive accomplishments of Captain Connolly reflect great credit upon himself, the 554th Aircraft Sustainment Squadron and the United States Air Force.
Technical Sergeant Wesley R. Carlisle distinguished himself by outstanding achievement while serving as Avionics Specialist, 104th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, 104th Fighter Wing, Barnes Air National Guard Base, Westfield, Massachusetts. During this period, Sergeant Carlisle supervised the acceptance inspections on 15 newly assigned F-15 aircraft. These aircraft required numerous inspections to include a 180-Day Tactical Electronic Warfare System Inspection which required Radio Frequency testing of all of the system cables of the AN/ALR-56C Radar Warning Receiver and the AN/ALQ-135 Countermeasures System. These systems are part of the Mission Essential Systems Listing which enables aircraft to be Fully Mission Capable. In addition, the efforts of Sergeant Carlisle assisted the Avionics Element in maintaining a one hundred percent retention rate during this time frame. The distinctive accomplishments of Sergeant Carlisle reflect credit upon himself, the 104th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, the Air National Guard, and the United States Air Force.
Master Sergeant Brian H. Luther distinguished himself by meritorious service while serving as NCOIC, Avionics Maintenance, Detachment 1, 375th Operations Group, Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The professional skill of Sergeant Luther resulted in direct, significant, and lasting contributions to the development and security of airspace navigation in Iraq, Afghanistan, and around the world. During this period, Sergeant Luther was responsible for the turn-in of 137 classified aircraft equipment items to Defense Reutilization and Marketing Office, saving the Air Force over ten million dollars in procurement expenses. Additionally, he negotiated the warranty repair of Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasure systems, saving the Air Force over two hundred thousand dollars in warranty repairs. Further, Sergeant Luther's avionics expertise was instrumental in the modification process of the Federal Aviations Administration's newest CL-60 aircraft, increasing combat flight inspection aircraft availability by 33 percent. Finally, he flew over 200 combat sorties and accumulated more than 700 combat flying hours in support of Operations ENDURING and IRAQI FREEDOM and Operation NEW DAWN. The distinctive accomplishments of Sergeant Luther reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.