KIRTLAND AFB, New Mexico — The Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center announced its annual award winners at a ceremony Jan. 25 and two Hill Air Force Base civilian employees brought home top honors.
Category I Civilian of the Year
Megan Wheeler, ICBM Systems Directorate
Category II Civilian of the Year
Jessica Keomalu, ICBM Systems Directorate
“Events like this are very important because we often are so focused on our mission…that we forget to take the time to tell our most outstanding performers just how well they are doing,” said Joseph Oder, AFNWC executive director, in the opening remarks. He told the winners “this is truly your night to shine.”
“Congratulations to all of the winners for their outstanding accomplishments and contributions to our mission,” said Maj. Gen. Shaun Morris, AFNWC commander, “and thanks to all their teammates whose hard work each day ensures our nation’s most powerful weapons are never doubted, always feared.”
The center’s winners will compete at the next level for Air Force Materiel Command’s annual awards.
Other AFNWC annual award winners:
Airman of the Year
Senior Airman Darian Bolles, Nuclear Technology and Interagency Directorate, Kirtland AFB, New Mexico
Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year
Tech. Sgt. Kamuela Kalilikane, Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles Systems Directorate, Hill AFB, Utah
Senior NCO of the Year
Master Sgt. Jerry Chandler, Air Delivered Capabilities Directorate, Kirtland AFB, New Mexico
Company Grade Officer of the Year
Captain Michael Gibb, Nuclear Technology and Interagency Directorate, Kirtland AFB, New Mexico
Field Grade Officer of the Year
Major Kenton Feldman, Air Delivered Capabilities Directorate, Eglin AFB, Florida
Category III Civilian of the Year
Dr. Stephanie Mma, Nuclear Technology and Interagency Directorate, Kirtland AFB, New Mexico
Category IV Civilian of the Year
Wesley Treadway, Air Delivered Capabilities Directorate, Eglin AFB, Florida
Team of the Year
Nuclear Command, Control and Communications Analysis Team, Kirtland AFB, New Mexico (David Bax, team lead; Ray Campos; Paul Gallagher; Michael Haway; Daniel Pagliaro; Leslie Remy; Nithya Sieu; Jason Weisberg; Bruce Gilpin; and Paul Lakos)
Outstanding Service Awards
Judith Oliva, Judge Advocate Directorate, and Tony Kaiser, Contracting Directorate, Kirtland AFB, New Mexico
The center is responsible for synchronizing all aspects of nuclear materiel management on behalf of Air Force Materiel Command in direct support of Air Force Global Strike Command. Headquartered at Kirtland AFB, the center has about 1,100 personnel assigned to 17 locations worldwide, including at Hanscom AFB, Massachusetts; Hill AFB, Utah; Eglin AFB, Florida; Tinker AFB, Oklahoma; and at Ramstein AB, Germany.
