HILL AIR FORCE BASE, Utah – The worldwide pandemic prevented the 419th Fighter Wing from holding its annual Maintenance Professional of the Year awards ceremony for the past two years, but wing leaders revived the tradition April 3 to hand out trophies to the wing’s top maintainers.
Some of the awards presented included Air Force and 10th Air Force-level honors, where wing personnel prevailed among the best and brightest.
Congratulations to the reservists who were recognized. *Note: The list below reflects Airmen’s ranks at the time they were selected as winners. Some have since been promoted.
2021 Maintenance Professional of the Year
Airman category:
Senior Airman Hannah Pettersson, 419th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron
NCO category:
Staff Sgt. Allan Valadez, 419th AMXS
SNCO category:
Master Sgt. Nicholas Mancheno, 419th AMXS
Support Professional (Airman):
Senior Airman Michael Gallegos, 419th AMXS
Support Professional (NCO):
Tech. Sgt. Oscar Acosta, 419th Maintenance Group
Weapons Load Crew of the Year
Master Sgt. Jonathan Thorsted
Senior Airman Seth Holden
Staff Sgt. Conner Hansen
CMSAF Thomas N. Barnes Award
Staff Sgt. Nathaniel Wilson, 419th AMXS
Lance P. Sijan USAF Leadership Award
Junior Enlisted:
Tech. Sgt. Kenneth Peterson, 419th AMXS
Senior Enlisted:
Master Sgt. Christopher Gray, 419th AMXS
Lieutenant General Leo Marquez Award
Technician:
Senior Airman Thomas Rich, 419th AMXS
Senior Airman Paige Munns, 419th Maintenance Squadron
Tech Supervisor:
Staff Sgt. Aaron Wood, 419th AMXS
Tech. Sgt. James Owens, 419th MXS
Supervisor Manager:
Master Sgt. Joel Kunze, 419th AMXS
Master Sgt. Nicholas Lee, 419th AMXS
Civilian Technician:
Joe Hernandez, 419th AMXS (won at the Air Force level)
Gen. Lew Allen, Jr. Award
SNCO:
Master Sgt. Robert Scheifl, 419th AMXS
2020 Maintenance Professional of the Year
Airman:
Senior Airman Seth Holden, 419th AMXS
NCO:
Staff Sgt. Zachary Sherman, 419th MXS
Load Crew of the Year
Tech. Sgt. Andrew Rapp
Staff Sgt. Mark Torres
Senior Airman Seth Holden
CMSAF Thomas N. Barnes Award
Staff Sgt. Nathaniel Wilson, 419th AMXS
Lance P. Sijan USAF Leadership Award
Junior Enlisted:
Tech. Sgt. Kyle Bingham, 419th AMXS
Senior Enlisted:
Senior Master Sgt. RW Ehart, 419th AMXS
Lieutenant General Leo Marquez Award
Technician:
Senior Airman William Macoubrie, 419th AMXS
Senior Airman Seth Holden, 419th MXS
Tech Supervisor:
Staff Sgt. Joshua Wayment, 419th MXS
Supervisor Manager:
2nd Lt. Michela Infantino, 419th AMXS
Company Grade Manager:
Capt. Heather Wilder, 419th MXS
Field Grade Manager:
Lt. Col. Kimberly Stevens, 419th MXS
Gen. Lew Allen, Jr. Award
Master Sgt. Theodore Ridl, 419th AMXS (won at the 10th Air Force Level)