419th Fighter Wing congratulates Outstanding Airmen of the Year winners Published Feb. 10, 2009 By 419th Public Affairs 419th Fighter Wing Public Affairs HILL AIR FORCE BASE, UT -- The 419th Fighter Wing announced the winners of the 2008 Outstanding Airmen of the Year awards at its annual banquet Saturday night at the Ogden Eccles Convention Center. First Sergeant of the Year Master Sgt. Cindy George 419th Medical Squadron Sergeant George is an outstanding first sergeant and role model. She completely coordinated the wing's first Airman's Call and Top-3 Call to present major issues to the wing commander in an open forum. She conducted the first medical squadron open ranks inspections in more than six years, firmly clarifying and rectifying uniform discrepancies. While TDY for the Air Force Worldwide First Sergeants Conference, Sergeant George rushed an Airman to Wilford Hall Medical Center for an emergency appendectomy. Never leaving an Airman behind, she stayed an extra week when complications arose to monitor the Airman's recovery and safe return home. Sergeant George also won Tenth Air Force's First Sergeant of the Year and will be moving on to compete at the AFRC level later this month. She is currently serving a 6-month tour to Balad Air Base, Iraq, with the 332nd Expeditionary Security Forces Group. Senior NCO of the Year Senior Master Sgt. Richelle Gaiter 419th Medical Squadron Sergeant Gaiter is an outstanding unit leader and role model. She provided oversight of all 4N0 training requirements and assessments within the medical squadron. She assured every medical technician was trained and ready to deploy, guaranteeing 100 percent medical mission readiness. Sergeant Gaiter developed a stellar mentoring program with detailed career path roadmaps to encourage personal growth, thus increasing unit retention. NCO of the Year Staff Sgt. Ryan Dugan 419th Civil Engineer Squadron In 2008, Sergeant Dugan volunteered for a 179-day deployment to Balad Air Base, Iraq. He proved to be a stellar deployer who resolved 17 IEDs, 4 insurgent weapons caches, 9 post blast investigations and 2 suspect IEDs. During his tour, Sergeant Dugan supervised the Balad AB EOD tactical operations center, orchestrating taskings for five operational teams. He safely directed employment of $28 million of equipment during 130 "outside the wire" combat missions. Army officials recognized him for outstanding EOD support and awarded him the 1st Squadron, 32nd Cavalry Combat Order of the Spur. Airman of the Year Senior Airman Lance Cressall 419th Security Forces Squadron During this period, Airman Cressall voluntarily deployed to Kirkuk Regional Air Base, Iraq, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. His vigilance on patrols rapidly detected, repelled, and destroyed opposing forces, improving safety of the base mission. He served as a security forces mobile fire team member to seven indirect fire incidents, enhancing the force protection of the base's mission capabilities. Airman Cressall performed 50 aggressive defensive patrols with zero unauthorized base entries and zero hostile insurgent operations. Civilian of the Year Ms. Shay Nielsen 419th Operations Group Ms. Nielsen is a phenomenal administrator. Throughout the year, she voluntarily backfilled a vacant position within the group while expertly managing the demands of her assigned position. She managed the administrative support of more than 100 members and their commanders, flawlessly processing hundreds of personnel records. Ms. Nielsen is a tenacious managerial expert and motivated self-starter who pushed an unwieldy personnel system to effectiveness. Her attention to detail and uncanny ability to forecast and adjust ensured units within the group had the right personnel in the right positions with the proper training. Other awards presented in the evening include the following: Chief's Award Staff Sgt. Nathaniel Yeaman 419th Security Forces Squadron Diamond Excellence Award Tech. Sgt. Robert Hathaway 419th Communications Squadron Honor Guard Member of the Year Lt. Col. Michael Doyle 419th Medical Squadron Wing Commander's Servant Leadership Award Senior Master Sgt. Michael Iarossi 419th Maintenance Squadron