Military Working Dog Handler Awards
Staff Sergeant Bobby J. Gonzales distinguished himself by meritorious service while serving as Military Working Dog Handler, 376th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron, 376th Expeditionary Mission Support Group, 376th Air Expeditionary Wing, Manas International Airport Transit Center and Kyrgyz Republic. During this period, Sergeant Gonzales provided outstanding explosive detector dog support by searching and clearing 1,900 pieces of luggage, 2,000 vehicles, and 150 fuel trucks carrying more than 10 million gallons of fuel, ensuring mission success for the Transit Center. His diligent efforts eliminated the vehicle borne improvised explosive device threat, which led to the protection of 2,100 United States and Coalition personnel and assets worth over two billion dollars. Additionally, Sergeant Gonzales' dedication and professionalism were demonstrated by his delivery of over 50 hours of joint training for the Kyrgyz Republic State Security Service working dog program. His efforts resulted in advanced training for and the sustainment of the only explosive detector dog capability for host nation governmental leaders. Finally, he was instrumental in the protection of the United States Ambassador to the Kyrgyz Republic during the grand opening of the Kyrgyz Women's Development Shelter. The distinctive accomplishments of Sergeant Gonzales reflect great credit upon himself, the 376th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron and the United States Air Force.
Staff Sergeant Frances N Fandal distinguished herself by meritorious service while serving as Explosive Detector Dog Handler, 11th Security Forces Squadron, 11th Mission Support Group, 11th Wing, Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. During this period, while deployed to Forward Operating Base Spin Buldak, Afghanistan, in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM, Sergeant Fandal executed 722 hours of explosive detection searches outside the wire, 40 dismounted combat patrols, and discovered a cache of 1,000 landmines on the Afghanistan border. Her meticulous search techniques were instrumental to the protection of more than thirty thousand U.S. and coalition forces. In addition, she performed numerous foot patrols and explosive patrol searches during the 2010 and 2012 Joint Service Open House. Her effective employment of her assigned military working dog ensured the protection of vital Air Force resources and secured 205,000 guests during the three-day event. Lastly, Sergeant Fandal provided stellar Explosive Detector Dog support during the 2010 Nuclear Security Summit by conducting 130 vehicle searches, ensuring the safety of 47 world leaders. The distinctive accomplishments of Sergeant Fandal reflect credit upon herself, the 11th Security Forces Squadron and the United States Air Force.
Senior Airman Johnny A Lovato distinguished himself by outstanding achievement while serving as Military Working Dog Handler, 14th Security Forces Squadron, 14th Flying Training Wing, Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi. During this period, Airman Lovato proved invaluable to the United States Secret Service by providing military working dog explosive detection support for the protection of the President of the United States and his staff. He single handedly cleared over 500 vehicles in an area of over six square miles, ensuring a safe environment for all distinguished visitors and guests. His exceptional skills were also instrumental in mitigating four bomb threats, which secured the safety of over 3,500 civilians throughout the Columbus community. Furthermore, he boosted community relations by performing 20 working dog demonstrations and educated over 300 civilians on the capabilities of military working dog teams. Finally, Airman Lovato's outstanding professional skill and knowledge aided the unit in garnering the 2012 Security Forces Small Unit Award for Air Education Training Command and an excellent rating during the 2013 Consolidated Unit Inspection. The distinctive accomplishments of Airman Lovato reflect credit upon himself, the 14th Security Forces Squadron, and the United States Air Force.
Senior Airman Adam L. Harvey distinguished himself by meritorious service as Military Working Dog Handler, 8th Security Forces Squadron, 8th Mission Support Group, 8th Fighter Wing, Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea. During this period, Airman Harvey cleared the route for base armed escorts, ensuring the protection of Department of Defense and civilian personnel and over two million dollars of equipment in both American and Korean currency. Additionally, he was the first responder for a gate runner and led the high risk traffic stop and swept the vehicle for any explosive devices, reducing threats to law enforcement personnel. Further, he participated in "Slammer Ops" in which he purged the area of unauthorized personnel with his Military Working Dog, exceeding all security requirements for the PL2 asset. Moreover, Airman Harvey participated in two in-flight emergency responses. His subject matter expertise and situational awareness were critical to setting up air-tight cordons safeguarding over 2.7 billion dollars in combat assets. Finally, he was lauded by the PACAF Inspector General staff for his decisiveness while supporting 16 Listening Posts and Observation Posts, merging K9 capabilities with 280 Security Forces members, contributing to the 8th Fighter Wing's "Excellent" rating during the 2011 Pacific Air Forces Unit Compliance Inspection. The distinctive accomplishments of Senior Airman Harvey reflect credit upon himself, the 8th Security Forces Squadron, and the United States Air Force.
Specialist Eric Y. Mayes distinguished himself by outstanding achievement as a Military Working Dog Liaison, while attached to the United States Central Command's Military Working Dog Hub, 386th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron, 386th Expeditionary Mission Support Group, 386th Air Expeditionary Wing, Ali Al Salem Air Base, Kuwait. During this period, Specialist Mayes coordinated with multi-service and civilian agencies throughout the theater of operation and arranged over one thousand flights to facilitate the movement and delivery of over 800 dog teams to the Combatant Commander. His flawless execution and attention to detail provided a vital low density, high demand asset and explosive detection capability to the warfighters supporting both Operation ENDURING FREEDOM and Operation NEW DAWN. Additionally, Specialist Mayes deployed over 90 Tactical Explosive Detector Dog Teams, the United States Army's newest initiative in combating the war on terror, ultimately strengthening the explosive detection capabilities of the warfighter in Afghanistan. He maintained an incredible safety record, transporting dog teams over 9,890 miles of Kuwaiti roads without a single mishap. Finally, Specialist Mayes facilitated the United States Army's occupational therapy dog team's travel throughout the theater of operation, bringing wounded warriors the opportunity to experience "a bit of home" while receiving treatment in the confines of a deployed environment. The distinctive accomplishments of Specialist Mayes reflect credit upon himself, the 386th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron and the United States Army.
Staff Sergeant Kyle O. Simms distinguished himself by meritorious service while serving as Military Working Dog Handler, 509th Security Forces Squadron, 509th Mission Support Group, 509th Bomb Wing, Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri. During this period, Sergeant Simms conducted Explosive Detector Dog sweeps for the United States Secret Service, clearing President Barrack Obama's home of residence and landing zone of any explosive threats, and securing President Obama and one thousand supporters during political campaigns in Chicago, Illinois. Additionally, Sergeant Simms expertly purged the Van Deusen Mansion of any explosive threats so President Obama could safely address the nation during his visit to Minneapolis, Minnesota. Furthermore, Sergeant Simms' exceptional knowledge, perseverance, and devotion to the mission directly contributed to the 509th Bomb Wing receiving the highest rating of "Excellent" during the 2010 Defense Nuclear Surety Inspection and to the squadron winning the 2010 and 2011 Outstanding Large Security Forces Unit award for Global Strike Command. The distinctive accomplishments of Staff Sergeant Simms reflected credit upon himself, the 509th Security Forces Squadron and the United States Air Force.
Staff Sergeant Christopher H. Wolffer distinguished himself by meritorious service while serving as Military Working Dog Handler, 52d Security Forces Squadron, 52d Mission Support Group, 52d Fighter Wing, Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany. During this period, Sergeant Wolffer deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom where he executed raids with Special Operations Forces and aided in the capture of three high value Al Qaeda operatives. In addition, his expertise and decisive actions after locating an Improvised Explosive Device saved the lives of his nine member team. The raid culminated in the destruction of an enemy cell and uncovered intelligence which led to locations and identities of other insurgent factions. Moreover, as the only Staff Sergeant in the unit certified as a Flight Chief, he managed operations for his 40-person flight and was responsible for the overall security of 6.2 billion dollars in war fighting assets. Sergeant Wolffer also concurrently performed duties as a Patrol Narcotic Detector Dog handler and assisted German Polizei with a 12-gram marijuana seizure. Finally, as testament of his leadership, Sergeant Wolffer was selected as the Flight level Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year for 2008 and 2010. The distinctive accomplishments of Sergeant Wolffer reflect credit upon himself, the 52d Security Forces Squadron and the United States Air Force.
Staff Sergeant Steven F Boleware distinguished himself by meritorious service while serving as Military Working Dog Handler, 64th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron, 64th Air Expeditionary Group, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. During this period, Sergeant Boleware performed over 30,000 vehicle searches and supported 250 random anti-terrorism measures, ensuring the safety of over 1,100 Eskan Village residents and defending the largest concentration of military personnel in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Additionally, he established a more humane and sustainable work cycle for the Military Working Dog section, increasing productivity and efficiency of Military Working Dog Teams. Further, he performed Explosive Detection sweeps before the visit by General Petraeus and Admiral Mullens, ensuring an incident-free venue and earning recognition for outstanding performance. Finally, his superior performance led to the Military Working Dog section receiving the 64th Security Forces Small Team of the Month for April 2010. The distinctive accomplishments of Sergeant Boleware reflect credit upon himself, the 64th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron, and the United States Air Force.
Technical Sergeant Kathleen B. Miller distinguished herself by meritorious service as Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge, Security Escort Team, 332d Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron, 332d Expeditionary Mission Support Group, 332d Air Expeditionary Wing, Ahmed Al Jaber Air Base, Kuwait. During this period, Sergeant Miller managed 140 missions, provided escort security for 1,874 passengers, guarded over 2.3 million dollars in funds, and protected convoys traveling over 20,000 kilometers through austere Kuwaiti highways in direct support of Operation NEW DAWN. In addition, she developed and implemented the Concept of Operations and Special Security and Operating Instructions for the Security Escort Team. Moreover, she oversaw the completion of 1,150 turn-by-turn photographs of 76 routes, mitigating risks and contributing to the safety of convoy operations. Lastly, she proved instrumental in the facilitation of joint combat training to improve the efficiency and skills of the Kuwaiti military police and foster host nation relations. The distinctive accomplishments of Sergeant Miller reflect credit upon herself, the 332d Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron and the United States Air Force.
Senior Airman Aaron Balsamo distinguished himself by outstanding achievement while serving as Military Working Dog Handler, 92nd Security Forces Squadron, 92nd Air Refueling Wing, Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington. During this period, Airman Balsamo aggressively conducted over 120 monthly Random Anti-Terrorism Measures, upholding a strict Anti-Terrorism and Force Protection posture. As a Miltary Working Dog Handler, he conducted Miltary Working Dog familiarization with over 300 Girl Scouts, showcasing the capabilities and skills of our Miltary Working Dogs. Additionally, Airman Balsamo directed security operations during five alert aircraft launches, enabling the KC-135 delivery of fuel to Operation Noble Eagle aircraft. Further, he exemplified his commitment to the local community by assisting with crowd control at the Bloomsday Run, providing a safe experience for over 50,000 runners. Finally, Airman Balsamo's exceptional performance contributed to the 92nd Security Forces Squadron win of the Air Mobility Command's Best Active Duty Medium Sized Security Forces Unit. The distinctive accomplishments of Senior Airman Balsamo reflect credit upon himself, the 92nd Security Forces Squadron and the United States Air Force.