AFSC 4T0X1
Medical Laboratory Technician
Awards
See also: Navy Lab Technician Awards
Senior Airman Riley Covert distinguished himself by outstanding achievement while assigned as Medical Laboratory Technician, 628th Healthcare Operations Squadron, Joint Base Charleston, South Carolina, from 3 June 2023 to 3 June 2026. During this period, Airman Covert expertly executed and analyzed over 300,000 blood and bodily fluid tests, ensuring full regulatory compliance while directly supporting three wings, 73 mission partners, and the Department of Defense's largest C-17 fleet's 9.2 billion dollar mission, significantly enhancing operational readiness and medical capability. His quality control, troubleshooting, and certification of two laboratory analyzers valued at 443,000 dollars, ensured the delivery of precise diagnostic results for 66,000 beneficiaries. Additionally, Airman Covert served as Front Desk and Shipping NCOIC, where he managed shipment of over 13,000 patient samples while leading four technicians and ensuring 100% accountability, resulting in an "Outstanding" rating during the Medical Group's Joint Commission Inspection. Finally, Airman Covert drove 4.3 billion dollars in NASA orbital missions, an ISS rescue mission, and a historic POTUS Amazon visit; he partnered with two agencies to secure 50 critical blood units, safeguarding 16 astronauts and enabling the rescue of six stranded crew members, culminating in Squadron Airman of the Year, Airman of the Quarter, Team of the Quarter and Wing 5/6 Airman of the Month. The distinctive accomplishments of Airman Covert reflect credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.
Staff Sergeant Zoenpari Chhakchhuak distinguished herself by meritorious service while serving as Medical Laboratory Specialist, Malcolm Grow Medical Clinics and Surgery Center, 79th Medical Wing, Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. During this period Sergeant Chhakchhuak anchored the Presidential Blood Program by procuring 282 life saving blood products, supporting 39 presidential missions including the 35th North Atlantic Treaty Organization Summit. Additionally, she organized laboratory deployment support for 392 short notice screenings supporting presidential deployments and an annual readiness inspection which secured praise from the Inspector General and won Clinic of the year honors. Despite a fifty percent staffing shortage, she drove coverage across nine laboratory sections and trained six clinics on point of care testing. Her efforts beat the ten day reference laboratory turnaround time standard and expedited care for 2600 patients, earning her recognition from the Wing Commander. Furthermore, she validated compliance with eleven thousand data points in preparation for three regulatory inspections. Her leadership resulted in an extraordinary score of 99.6% and squadron Team of the Quarter Award. Finally, Sergeant Chhakchhuak saved an infant's life by executing an emergency blood release which her department modeled to reduce blood release times from twelve minutes to one minute. Her efforts transformed care supporting 225,000 annual procedures and earned her the 2025 Air Force District of Washington Airman of the Year Award. The distinctive accomplishments of Sergeant Chhakchhuak reflect credit upon herself, the 79th Medical Wing and the United States Air Force.
Technical Sergeant Hannah Ward distinguished herself in the performance of outstanding service to the United States as a Medical Laboratory Technician, 56th Medical Group, Luke Air Force Base, Arizona. During this period, Sergeant Ward's exceptional technical expertise and dedication ensured the highest standard of patient care in the fields of phlebotomy, hematology, urinalysis, chemistry, and microbiology. Her meticulous attention to detail and commitment to accuracy led to a significant reduction in diagnostic errors, directly enhancing medical readiness and patient outcomes. Additionally, Sergeant Ward played a pivotal role in streamlining laboratory processes, increasing efficiency, and reducing turnaround times for critical test results. Furthermore, her leadership and mentorship of junior airmen strengthened the laboratory's capabilities, fostering a culture of excellence and professional development. Moreover, she coordinated with medical providers to improve diagnostic accuracy, ensuring rapid and effective patient treatment. Finally, Sergeant Ward's unwavering dedication and superior performance significantly enhanced the mission effectiveness of the 56th Medical Group and improved healthcare delivery for thousands of service members and their families. The singularly distinctive accomplishments of Technical Sergeant Ward reflect great credit upon herself and the United States Air Force.
Staff Sergeant Tara Mitchell distinguished herself by meritorious service while serving as Medical Laboratory Technician, 66th Medical Squadron, 66th Air Base Group, Hanscom Air Force Base, Massachusetts. During this period, Sergeant Mitchell's leadership abilities and professionalism steered the laboratory's College of American Pathology Compliance Survey Program for seven members and evaluated thirty surveys and over three hundred checklist items, culminating in two successful national reaccreditation inspections. In addition, her detailed handling of more than 1,234 molecular analyses and genetic assay shipments reduced result report times by forty eight hours and empowered commanders to mitigate the Coronavirus pandemic impact on Hanscom Air Force Base. Her actions directly contributed to the Diagnostics and Therapeutics Flight earning the 66th Air Base Group's Team of the Year award. Finally, she served on a security detail at twenty four community vaccination events, which safeguarded clinic team members that successfully administered over nine thousand doses to military and civilian beneficiaries. The distinctive accomplishments of Staff Sergeant Mitchell reflect great credit upon herself, the 66th Medical Squadron and the United States Air Force.
Senior Airman Margaret A. West distinguished herself by meritorious service while serving as Medical Laboratory Technician, 633d Medical Support Squadron, 633d Medical Group, 633d Air Base Wing, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia. During this period, Senior Airman West meticulously led the Transfusion Services department by verifying 1.2 million dollars in equipment, reducing stagnant testing by thirty percent, and ensuring the department received zero inspection errors from the American Association of Blood Banks and College of American Pathologists. Additionally, she was selected to fortify pandemic operations by leading the night shift team at the Air Force's sole reference laboratory, testing over 215,000 COIVD-19 samples and supporting 76 Medical Treatment Facilities serving a population of more than 2.5 million. Moreover, she mastered pandemic operations by processing eight hundred deployers, supporting four Aerial Port of Embarkation missions, expanding testing capabilities by three hundred percent, and expediting 30,000 test kits in support of the Air Force Global Strike Command's nuclear defense operations. Finally, her dedication was further showcased as her pandemic response team was coined by the Air Combat Command's Surgeon General. The distinctive accomplishments of Staff Sergeant West reflect great credit upon herself, the 633d Medical Support Squadron, and the United States Air Force.
Staff Sergeant Charles A. Aceves distinguished himself by meritorious service while serving as Lab Technician, 99th Medical Support Squadron, 99th Medical Group, 99th Air Base Wing, Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada from XXXXXXXXX to XXXXXXXXXX. During this period, Sergeant Aceves bolstered Air Combat Command's largest lab by collecting over 80,000 samples with a ninety-nine percent patient satisfaction rate, contributing to the Mike O'Callaghan Federal Medical Center being awarded the Air Force Surgeon General's "Hospital of the Year" award. Additionally, while deployed in support of contingency operations, Sergeant Aceves led his Forward Operating Base's COVID 19 response, securing over five thousand test kits, developing protocols, and procuring an analyzer. His actions ensured the safety of more than three thousand warfighters and sustained combat operations, supporting over 4,000 combat sorties. His efficient process balanced requirements and resources and became the standard which was adopted by all Central Command units. Finally, Sergeant Aceves' leadership and dedication to duty was recognized by his nomination for the Air Force's "Laboratory Airman of the Year" award. The distinctive accomplishments of Staff Sergeant Aceves reflect great credit upon himself, the 99th Medical Support Squadron, and the United States Air Force.
Petty Officer Third Class Cheryl A. Smith distinguished herself by outstanding achievement while serving as Medical Laboratory Technician, Armed Services Whole Blood Processing Laboratory - West, Travis Air Force Base, California. During this period, the professional skill, leadership, and ceaseless efforts of Petty Officer Smith made her invaluable to the re-establishment of the frozen blood mission. As a junior Petty Officer, she flawlessly performed duties well above her rank, during a period of severe manning shortage, as Quality Assurance Manager and Facilities Manager. Her tireless efforts ensured success during the accreditation inspections conducted by the American association of Blood Banks, College of American Pathologists, and Food and Drug Administration. Further, she led more than fifty glycerolization evolutions, stockpiling over 20,000 units of frozen red cell units worth an estimated three million dollars for wartime and contingency operations. The distinctive accomplishments of Petty Officer Smith reflect credit upon herself and the United States Air Force.