OSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea --
OSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea – One of Team Osan’s own won the Air Mobility Command Air Force Medical Service Biomedical Equipment Technician of the Year at the Airman level.
Senior Airman Nathan Howard, a biomedical equipment technician with the 51st Medical Support Squadron, received the achievement from the Air Force Surgeon General for demonstrating expertise, leadership and commitment to the Air Force’s medical mission.
“I am happy that I received the award,” said Howard. “This last year was hard work, and I did not expect to be selected for the award. Even though I was selected for this award, I could not have accomplished it without my team. The support they provided was instrumental in allowing me to succeed.”
This past year, Howard was able to complete 575 work orders, augment war reserve material personnel for four weeks, as well as deploy to the ROK in support of Operation Southern Hope in which he established a 270 bed military treatment facility.
“Airman Howard was instrumental in the exercise Southern Hope,” said Master Sgt. Charles Wolfe, clinical engineering flight chief with the 51st MDSS. “He provided excellent support there by taking care of the initial setup of a lot of equipment that needed to be installed to get the facility up and running.”
Howard recently moved from Travis Air Force Base, California, a unit assigned to Air Mobility Command, and has already made an impact at his new shop at Osan.
“His help has been invaluable to the mission that we do at Osan,” said Capt. Aaron Eldridge, clinical engineering flight commander with the 51st MDSS. “He is one of the most phenomenal people to grace the halls of the 51st Medical Group and more specifically, the medical maintenance shop.”