HILL AIR FORCE BASE — Senior Master Sgt. Matthew Mason, 419th Maintenance Squadron, was named Air Force Reserve Command’s First Sergeant of the Year at a ceremony in Jacksonville, Florida, on April 16.

In 2015, Mason dedicated more than 500 hours of personal time to taking care of Airmen and their families. He identified and averted three possible suicides by acting as a key responder.

Mason serves as president of the 419th Fighter Wing’s First Sergeant Council and helped raise more than $10,000 for the Diamond Heart Fund, which helps local reservists and their families in need. 

He also mentored 25 noncommissioned officers in their educational pursuits, resulting in nine Airmen receiving Community College of the Air Force degrees and four pursuing degrees. Mason also furthered his own education, earning a fourth CCAF degree and is currently working toward a second master’s degree in human resource management.   

Outside of his Reserve duties, Mason coaches two city youth basketball leagues and volunteers in after-school programs.