Tri-Awards winners announced

By SSgt Marilyn C. Holliday
HQ AIA Public Affairs
Kelly Air Force Base, Texas

In a recent ceremony merging three awards ceremonies into one, this year’s recipients of the Gordon W. Sommers Award, Company Grade Officer of the Year Award, and Sensor Chaplain Award were announced in the First Tri-Awards Banquet.

Gordon W. Sommers

This award recognizes civilians for job accomplishments that contribute to the effectiveness of the command mission.

The award honors Gordon W. Sommers, former assistant to the commander of the Electronic Security Command, who retired after 40 years of service with AIA’s predecessor units.

This year’s honored winners are Teresa Gonzalez, Category I; David Mansfield, Category II; and Donald Weddle, Category III.

Teresa Gonzalez is a management assistant for the 690th CSS, Kelly Air Force Base, Texas. She works directly with customers to familiarize them with publications and forms generation processes, requirements, and criteria; resolves issues, as needed and produces final products.

“Ms. Gonzalez flawlessly converted over 50 account publications, a variety of instructions, supplements, pamphlets, handbooks and visual aids, into electronic form in both SGML and print formats, six weeks prior to suspense date,” Ms. Linda Lamberth, chief, Web Technology Section, wrote in the nomination package. “She is AIA’s authority on the complete Standard Generalized Markup Language process.”

Dave Mansfield is an intelligence production manager at the 97th Intelligence Squadron, Offutt Air Force Base, Neb.

He is the subject matter expert for the entire squadron and point of contact for research and analysis for the 67th and 55th Wing.

“Dave’s ability to visualize future needs and capabilities was instrumental in the establishment of the first fully-operational signals laboratory at an airborne unit,” Capt. Bradley Hince, chief of the laboratory, wrote in the nomination package. “His leadership ensured the successful development of production and reporting methodology enabling the satisfaction of all nationally tasked assignments.”

Donald Weddle is the chief of the Airborne Reconnaissance Signals Analysis Branch at the National Air Intelligence Center at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio.

Weddle manages more than 60 people, including engineers and technicians, who produce electronic warfare information in support of intelligence assessments. “Mr. Weddle is a ‘one-in-a-million’ manager and leader,” Mr. James Boone, chief, Signals Exploitation Division, wrote in the nomination package. “His demonstrated ability to overcome production deficiencies while defeating a debilitating morale problem is a rarity. Rarer still is the ability to then provide manpower to improve local community relations through providing time off for volunteers.”

Company Grade Officer

Capt. Matthew Murdough is the chief of the Gas Analysis Laboratory at the Technical Operations Division, McClellan Air Force Base, Calif.

As the lab chief and Reactor Products Program on-site manager, he led 34 officers, enlisted and civilian scientists “like a pro,” his nomination package read. “He achieved the highest production levels ever and produced best data quality in the program’s 40-year history,” said Col. Harold Rhoads, TOD commander. “He led the team to rescue national prestige when the U.S. was surprised by India/Pakistan nuclear test, personally leading by example and motivating the team to work 630 overtime man-hours in a 16-day period.”

SENSOR CHAPLAIN

Chaplain (Capt.) Kenneth Reyes was announced the award winner in the first-ever SENSOR Chaplain Award category.

Chaplain Reyes is readily recognized in the unit as “the padre” according to Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Stephen Hess, and is “known for delivering chicken and rice soup and chili dogs to swing- and mid-shift workers on multiple occasions. “He’s a big hit in the unit,” the nomination package read, “always armed with either doughnuts or a bag of candy. He’s ever-mindful of shift worker schedules, accommodated their counseling needs after hours to encourage participation without jeopardizing sleep schedule … literally available day or night for those in need.”