1st SOLRS claims Fuel NCO of the Year

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. William Banton
  • 1st Special Operations Wing Public Affairs
HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. --  A 1st Special Operations Logistics Readiness Squadron fuels craftsman received an Air Force level award during a ceremony at the LRS Fuels Management office June 22.

Tech. Sgt. James Albanesi, 1st SOLRS Forward Aerial Refueling Point program manager, received the Air Force Fuels NCO of the Year award for 2010.

"For the first time in my life, I'm speechless," Sergeant Albanesi said at the award presentation. "I appreciate everybody's help down range and the people back home making the team and family feel well."

According to the awards package, Sergeant Albanesi deployed with the U.S. Army as a logistic advisor and planned and executed 116 joint Iraqi Army missions covering more than 1,400 miles in support of U.S. Forces-Iraq operations.

He led the largest FARP team in the Air Force comprised of two combat teams capable of rapidly refueling and rearming aircraft.

He also supported five flying squadrons by training 23 Airmen on FARP operations.
Last year, he managed the Air Force's only FARP training school, teaching 12 classes and helping the combat posture of five MAJCOMs.

"I applaud the hard work, dedication, and perseverance that has elevated you to this prestigious level," wrote Lt. Gen. Loren Reno, Logistics, Installations and Missions Support deputy chief of staff, in a congratulatory letter.

Lt. Col. Steven Gibson, 1st SOLRS commander, elaborated on the general's sentiment.

"Sergeant Albanesi is a rock star," Colonel Gibson said. "He's that aggressive guy that gets it done every time. We're extremely fortunate to have him here in the Air Force Special Operations Command."

Sergeant Albanesi's leadership also commented on the importance of FARP operators in special operations and his place in that tradition.

"The FARP capability was born out of a disastrous mission in the desert, but that's typical of how AFSOC forces operate, out of apparent defeat we snatch victory and say 'how can we do this better?'" Col. Curt Van De Walle, 1st Special Operations Mission Support Group commander said. "Sergeant Albanesi is a testament to this ingenuity; he does a phenomenal job and is truly the best of the best."