Military Affairs Committee holds 15th annual awards banquet

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Aja Heiden
  • 482nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs
HOMESTEAD AIR RESERVE BASE, Fla. --  Members from the 482nd Fighter Wing, Special Operations Command South, U.S. Coast Guard Maritime Safety and Security Team and Florida Air National Guard came together in a joint award ceremony April 5.
 
The Military Affairs Committee's 15th Annual Awards Banquet was held in the recently constructed Community Activity Center to honor the outstanding military and civilian performers from 2013. Each year the 482nd FW and the MAC jointly organize the annual awards banquet.

The CAC was decorated with long, blue table cloths, fine china and pink, white and purple orchids. The hours of work preparing the food and decorating the facility, and the support from the sponsors came together to show the honorees how much their efforts are appreciated by the community.

"This was an excellent event," said Senior Master Sgt. Eddie Diaz, chief enlisted manager of Detachment 1, 125th Fighter Wing, Florida Air National Guard here.

Forty-Five local businesses, local governments, elected officials and military units contributed the awards and sponsorships to the event.

"It is a pleasure to be honored by the community," said Master Sgt. Phillip D. Powell, 482nd FW career advisor.  Powell was selected as Senior Noncommissioned Officer of the Year for 2013.

"Master Sgt. Powell was a mentee when he joined the Air Force, now he is in the position to be a mentor so he is giving back to the community," said Master Sgt. Larry D. Bradley, 482nd FW Base Honor Guard flight chief and fellow nominee. "When you stand for excellence, it is an honor to be recognized by your peers."

The keynote speaker for the event, was Dr. Larry Feldman, vice chairman of the Miami-Dade County School Board, thanked the military members for their service. He also spoke of the improvements in the school system designed to support deployed military members and military newcomers to the Miami-Dade area.

The night was capped off by remarks from 482nd FW commander and host, Col. Chris Funk, who congratulated the award winners and nominees and thanked the MAC, award presenters and sponsors for their support of the event and Homestead ARB.

The MAC has supported the military mission and military quality of life for over 43 years, and the awards banquet is just one event of many the committee works to put together. The MAC is comprised of up to 50 civic and local leaders who meet monthly to discuss issues relating to the civilian-military relationship, according to their mission statement. 

Below is the complete list of 2013 annual award winners, category and unit.

- 482nd FW Airman: Senior Airman Eddy Perez, 482nd Mission Support Group

- 482nd FW Noncommissioned Officer: Staff Sgt. Jose Gonzalez, 482nd Civil Engineering Squadron

- 482nd FW Senior Noncommissioned Officer: Master Sgt. Phillip Powell, 482nd Force Support Squadron

- 482nd FW Company Grade Officer: Capt. Robert Lax, 482nd Operations Support Squadron

- 482nd FW First Sergeant: Senior Master Sgt. Thomas Cougill, 482nd Security Forces Squadron

- 482nd FW Civilian, Category I: Mr. Eddy Perez, 482nd Mission Support Group

- 482nd FW Civilian, Cat II: Mr. John Bosco, 482nd Communications Squadron

- 482nd FW Civilian, Cat III: Mr. Christopher Collins, 482nd Operations Support Squadron

- Air Defense Warrior: Tech. Sgt. Robert Gresham, Det. 1, 125th Fighter Wing, Florida Air National Guard

- U.S. Coast Guard Sailor of the Year: Petty Officer 2nd Class Jesse Gutierrez

- Special Operations Command South Military Member: Spc. Giovanni Barahona

- Special Operations Command South Civilian Member: Mr. Robert Gaddis