Intelligence Air Commandos earn AF-level recognition

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Joe McFadden
  • 1st Special Operations Wing Public Affairs
HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. --  Four Air Commandos recently received Air Force Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Agency awards for outstanding leadership and performance in their respective career fields.

Air Force officials announced the winners at the Pentagon as part of AFISRA's annual award program in conjunction with the National Military Intelligence Association's Major Jack E. Thomas Awards.

An active duty NCO and a civilian from the 1st Special Operations Support Squadron and two Reserve officers from the Air Force Special Operations Command Headquarters joined the list of 30 finalists recognized for their hard work in 2010.

"Their outstanding leadership, exemplary improvements to intelligence war-fighting capabilities and overall superior job performance make them most deserving of this national-level award," said Air Force officials in the announcement. "Congratulations to all winners and nominees for their outstanding accomplishments."

Outstanding Active Duty Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Noncommissioned Officer of the Year (Level II): Staff Sgt. Jennifer Webb, 1st SOSS Intelligence Training NCO in charge.

According to her nomination packet, Sergeant Webb fused intelligence for four partner organizations while deployed for more than 200 days in support of counterterrorism and interagency operations. She also directed training for 70 intelligence personnel supporting nine operations squadrons in three theaters of operation.

Outstanding Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Senior-Level Civilian of the Year (Level II): Kevin Chisholm, 1st SOSS Intelligence Flight deputy commander.

Mr. Chisholm's nomination packet stated he took the helm of the Air Force's largest operations support squadron intelligence flight for 90 days resulting in no mission degradation while maintaining the highest-ever operations tempo. He also oversaw more than 5,000 deployed days in four separate theaters and played a critical role in providing requested intelligence during the early hours of Operation Unified Response after the earthquake in Haiti Jan. 12, 2010.

While Mr. Chisholm accepted the individual award, he acknowledged the work of his entire team especially for the work they did in 2009 when they earned the Outstanding Operations Group Intelligence/Operations Support Flight Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Unit of the Year Award.

"For me as a manager, to win the award is really recognition of the flight as a whole," Mr. Chisholm said. "The flight does amazing things everyday in almost every operational theater spread across six different deployed sites. We have terrific support folks that keep us equipped and ready to deploy, and the three types of intelligence analysts that we have are the best."

In addition to the 1st SOSS winners, two intelligence reservists at AFSOC Headquarters also garnered AFISRA awards for excellence.

Outstanding Air Reserve Component Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Field Grade Officer of the Year (Level I): Maj. Connie Zicaro, HQ AFSOC.

Outstanding Air Reserve Component Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Company Grade Officer of the Year (Level I): Capt. Eric Bernkopf, HQ AFSOC.