HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. -- A 1st Special Operations Wing Airman was named the Department of the Air Force’s Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Victim Advocate of the Year on July 29, 2026.
Staff Sgt. Madisyn Sisk, an air transportation specialist, received the award for her outstanding volunteer service supporting survivors of sexual assault and harassment at Hurlburt Field and within the local community.
“I wanted to do something that would really help people,” Sisk said. “I enjoy helping people. It’s one of the most fulfilling things I’ve done in my Air Force career. I strive to be a better person every day, and I feel like, as a victim advocate, I can really do that.”
The role of a volunteer SAPR victim advocate is incredibly demanding, according to Lisa Wright, the Hurlburt Field installation SAPR manager. It requires individuals to step into moments of profound crisis, offering confidential support, resources and a steady, compassionate presence to survivors of sexual assault and harassment.
Wright noted that Sisk exemplifies the selflessness and care required for the role.
“Madisyn really shows up,” Wright said. “She’s never once said, ‘I can’t do that.’ She shows up and she cares, and that’s really what we want to highlight about our advocates. They’re really putting forth commitment to the program because we couldn’t do this without them.”
Wright explained that Hurlburt Field consistently ranks among the top three most reported bases for sexual assault and harassment in the Air Force. She attributed these statistics to successful outreach and advocacy programs that build trust, rather than an increase of incidents.
While Air Force Special Operations Command is known for producing elite Air Commandos, AFSOC also prioritizes the holistic well-being and resilience of its force, creating a culture where helping agencies can thrive Wright said.
Under the Air Force's structure, SAPR is a commander’s program, meaning its success relies on command support.
“Any program that falls under a commander is only as good as a commander makes it,” Wright said. “Since I’ve been a Sexual Assault Response Coordinator, we have had great leadership at Hurlburt. They really prioritize putting Airmen first.”
This leadership backing empowers advocates to bring their mission into the local community, Sisk said.
“I think every service member wearing a uniform should be striving to help not only the base community but the local community as well,” Sisk said. “The local community expects that of the Air Commandos on Hurlburt.”
Sisk has contributed to partnerships with the Gulf Coast Sexual Assault Program and extended her advocacy to neighboring installations, assisting technical school students at Naval Air Station Pensacola to establish a safe, supportive environment early in their careers.
Sisk also volunteered with United Way, where her efforts helped generate more than $70,000 in funding through fundraising events. Her community involvement includes coordinating Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed (ALICE) poverty simulation training to help participants understand the daily struggles of low-income households, participating in local beach cleanups and preparing and serving meals at Shelter House, a regional domestic violence center.
Through advocates like Sisk, Hurlburt Field’s SAPR office continues to demonstrate that AFSOC’s strength lies in how its personnel protect, support and lift one another up, both inside the installation gates and in the surrounding communities.