Hurlburt Airman recognized as outstanding leader in AMC

HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. -- A Hurlburt Field staff sergeant was recently named an Airlift/Tanker Association Young Leadership Award winner.

Staff Sgt. William Cosenza, an integrated flight control systems craftsman assigned to the 1st Special Operations Maintenance Squadron, is one of 12 Airmen selected from the entire Air Force for the award. He will travel to Nashville, Tenn., later this year for the official presentation.

The A/TA Young Leadership is given to Airmen who demonstrate exceptional leadership traits within the Air Mobility Command or supporting units and in the community.

"This is a huge honor to Sergeant Cosenza and the unit as a whole," said Maj. Felix Johnfinn, 1st SOMXS commander. "The Airlift/Tanker Association is a mobility centric organization that's designed foremost to foster and nurture the United States Air Force mobility enterprise. [MC-130P] Combat Shadows fill the special operations portion of this mission, so it was a great honor for all of us to see Sergeant Cosenza recognized by the mobility community as an outstanding Airman."

"Thanks to my leadership, supervisors and the unit, I have gotten some opportunities that will definitely help my career path," Sergeant Cosenza said.
Sergeant Cosenza, a 10-year Air Force veteran from Bangor, Penn., was also named the 1st Special Operations Wing NCO of the Year for 2008 and was awarded the Lt. Gen. Leo Marquez award in Washington, D.C., in May.

As a Young Leadership Award winner, Sergeant Cosenza will become a member of the A/TA Young Leader Advisory Committee. The committee's job is to champion efforts and generate new ideas to enhance A/TA activities and to become involved at the local chapter level.

"I'm looking forward to the challenge and to broaden my horizons," Sergeant Cosenza said.
Challenges are nothing new to Sergeant Cosenza, who deployed twice last year and filled a position meant for a higher ranking NCO.

"He is an exceptional instrument and flight control systems craftsman, and his work at home station and while deployed have resulted in our squadron supporting more than 4,000 flying hours for the Combat Shadow," Major Johnfinn said. "He has proven himself in support of no fail combat missions, and has frequently solved maintenance discrepancies that enabled aircraft to launch and save lives."

No matter how hard he works, Sergeant Cosenza said there is someone who motivates him and works even, harder than he does.

"My wife has the hardest job of all," Sergeant Cosenza said. "She works way harder than I do. Thanks to her, I can do what I do."