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Wing announces Sijan nominees

  • Published
  • By Senior Master Sgt. Stuart Camp
  • 51st Fighter Wing Public Affairs
OSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea --  Four Airmen were announced July 19 as the 51st Fighter Wing's nominees to the 2011 Lance P. Sijan Leadership Awards.

They are Maj. Stephen Graham, 51st Operations Group; Maj. Richard Swengros, 25th Fighter Squadron; Senior Master Sgt. Chris Marinos, 51st Maintenance Group; and Technical Sgt. Ruben Rivas, 51st Munitions Squadron.

Their nominations have been forwarded to 7th Air Force for consideration in the Air Force-level award program, which is named for Capt. Lance P. Sijan, a Vietnam-era combat pilot and Medal of Honor recipient. The award recognizes Airmen who demonstrate the highest qualities of leadership. The inclusive dates for this award is July 1, 2010, to June 30, 2011.

"I was taken aback by the nomination," said Graham, chief of standardization and evaluations in the 51st Operations Group. "I'm humbled by the honor, because there are so many great officers in this wing.

The stan/eval chief has been in the Air Force 11 years, and he professed that his greatest accomplishment during the judged period was a team effort - ORI results. As part of his duties, ensuring the wing's 100+ A-10 Thunderbolt II & F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter pilots are trained and ready, he helped get the flying units prepared for the inspection.

Swengros, an A-10 flight examiner and stan/eval chief for the 25th FW, has responsibility for flight evaluations on the wing's A-10 pilots. Considered a top planner and manager by his commander, Swengros is also credited with being the 25th FS's "top gun." He also crafted seven exercises, which drove USFK close-air support tactics, and these efforts resulted in the PACAF Inspector General's rating of outstanding.

The senior enlisted category nominee endured two operational readiness inspections in succession. Marinos is the Quality Assurance superintendent for the maintenance group, which oversees 1,300 people, $710 thousand in support equipment and the wing's entire fleet of aircraft. He spring boarded from an inspection at Seymour-Johnson AFB, NC, before moving to Osan almost nine months ago. The 18-year veteran is also no stranger to awards - winning the 2010 Leo Marquez nomination at his previous base.

"It's a big deal, especially at the squadron level - where the people really know you," he said while describing the honor of a Sijan nomination. "Then a lot of people put time and effort into the package. I think it's pretty cool."

Representing Osan in the junior enlisted category is the 51st MUNS assistant NCOIC of munitions storage. Rivas leads a team of 34 technicans in managing a munitions stockpile of more than 4,000 items, valued at $1.5 billion.

"This award is not something given out lightly," Rivas said. "It's a very coveted award in my career field. I've only known a few people to get it."

He found out he won the group-level award at the same time as his chief and squadron commander notified him of his selection for promotion to master sergeant. The wing-level award is just icing on the cake.

The 13-year Airman, who is a munitions systems craftsman by trade, said, "It's been a pretty good few weeks."