Air Force Announces the 12 Outstanding Airmen for 2024
Published July 24, 2024, Air Force Personnel Center, Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, TX 

Air Force officials have selected the service’s top enlisted members, naming the 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year for 2024.

An Air Force selection board at the Air Force’s Personnel Center considered 35 nominees who represented major commands, direct reporting units, field operating agencies and Headquarters Air Force. The board selected the 12 Airmen based on superior leadership, job performance and personal achievements.

The 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year (alphabetically, by rank and command of assignment when selected) are:

Senior Master Sergeant Sarah E. Buckley, Pacific Air Forces

Senior Airman Jacob K. Cummings, Air Force Special Operations Command

Technical Sergeant Cory M. Green, 60 SFS, Travis AFB, CA, Air Mobility Command

Senior Airman Mariah L. Hayden, Air Force Materiel Command

Senior Airman Rachel M. Heath, Air Force Global Strike Command

Senior Airman LeAnne A. Jayoma, Air Force District of Washington

Senior Airman Mykhailo Khromiak, Air Education and Training Command

Technical Sergeant Jose Lucero IV, AFSFC Det3/Ops, Ft Bliss, TX, Air Force Reserve Command

Technical Sergeant Joseph M. Mazure, Air Combat Command

Master Sergeant Haley M. Rankin, Air National Guard

Technical Sergeant Geraldine C. Schwartz, United States Air Forces in Europe - Air Forces Africa

Master Sergeant Genevieve M. Villela, Air Force Materiel Command

The winners are authorized to wear the Outstanding Airman of the Year Ribbon with the bronze service star device on the ribbon. They are also authorized to wear the OAY badge for one year from the date of formal presentation.

AFSFA comment: Congrats to all 12 and HOOAH to Defenders TSgts Green and Lucero!!!!

Air Force Names New Security Forces Director

Brig Gen(s) Brian A. Filler was announced as the 27th Director of Security Forces, Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics, Engineering and Force Protection. He is the focal point for ensuring base defense, the physical security of Air Force nuclear assets and planning, and programming for more than 43,000 Active-Duty and Reserve Component members worldwide. He provides policy and oversight for protecting Air Force resources from terrorism, criminal acts, sabotage, and acts of war. Brig Gen(s) Filler also ensures that Defenders are trained, equipped and ready to support contingency and exercise plans in support of the Department of the Air Force’s Great Power Competition missions.

Brig Gen(s) Filler, who assumed the post on 15 July, said, “I look forward to serving with and representing the 43,000 Total Force Defenders worldwide. I will work tirelessly to serve Defenders on the ground standing watch around the globe.”

Prior to serving in this role, Brig Gen(s) Filler served as the Director, Air Force Colonels Management. In this role, he led the team coordinating personnel actions for over 4,000 Active Duty Colonels and Colonel selects for the Deputy Chief of Staff, Manpower, Personnel and Services. He advised the Secretary of the Air Force, Chief of Staff, and senior leaders on assignments, retirements, professional education, and development opportunities, and implements force management policies, long range plans, force analysis and joint officer management.

Brig Gen(s) Filler graduated from the University of Colorado, Boulder in 1999. He previously commanded the 99th Ground Combat Training Squadron at Creech Air Force Base, Nevada and the 741st Missile Security Forces Squadron at Malmstrom Air Force Base, Montana where he also served as the Deputy Commander, 341st Security Forces Group. Additionally, he served as the Vice Commander, 39th Air Base Wing, Incirlik Air Base, Turkey. He completed staff tours as an Antiterrorism Officer at U.S. European Command, Chief, Nuclear Security Division on the Air Staff, and Deputy Chief of Staff, U.S. Air Forces in Europe-Air Forces Africa, Ramstein Air Base, Germany. Colonel Filler deployed to Qatar in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM, to Iraq in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM and supported Operation INHERENT RESOLVE from Turkey. Prior to his current assignment, Colonel Filler was Commander, 501st Combat Support Wing, RAF Alconbury, UK.

“Defenders have an important role to play in Great Power Competition,” Brig Gen(s) Filler said. “I am confident we will rise to tomorrow’s challenges to support the greatest Air Force in the world.”

System High delivers the most advanced protection and secrecy solutions to secure and strengthen critical missions, programs, operations, and intelligence activities. We maximize protection in space, cyber, ground, air, and sea by fully engaging your mission and rapidly developing the most comprehensive and resilient protection programs. We employ the most advanced teams and technologies focused on strengthening critical systems and our nation’s most sensitive missions.

https://www.systemhigh.com/

Several exciting opportunities are available at System High for security professionals. We are looking for individuals with experience in program security and activity security representatives to support a recently awarded contract with GDIT, providing security support services to the Air Force Special Access Programs (SAP).

Opportunities exist at Kirtland AFB, NM, Hanscom AFB, MA and Wright-Patterson AFB, OH. For this AF contract there are no specific closeout dates for these positions, but we encourage interested candidates to apply as soon as possible. For more specifics, interested candidates can visit our career page where all our current openings are posted: Job Opportunities (paycomonline.net)

Julian Torres is the lead on this contract, and he will be the main point of contact. Below is his contact information, as well as the contact information for his team members. If any candidates are interested, they should reach out to Julian and his team directly. I have also added the entire team to this email.

Julian Torres             This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Che Brown                This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Kat Alleman              This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Defender Family – I wanted to personally let you know that Maj Gen Sherman was selected for a new position - as Vice Superintendent of the Air Force Academy. He began his new position last week. As the first Two Star in the role, he will help develop the leaders that our Airmen and Guardians need.

Maj Gen Sherman wants to convey his honor in serving as your Director and advocate for the past two years. He is thankful for the opportunity to serve everyone that makes up the Total Force.

Effectively immediately, I will serve as Acting Director, Security Forces, Deputy Chief of Staff, Logistics, Engineering and Force Protection, Headquarters United States Air Force. I look forward to advocating for the career field until our new Director, Brig Gen(S) Brian Filler assumes the position.

 It is only June, but this has been an incredibly fast-paced year for our Defender Family. Great power competition is the central context for the future of air and space power. The Department of the Air Force is doing more than ever before to deter, defend, and, if necessary, defeat aggression against the United States, our allies, partners, and our interests.

Defenders answered the call these past few years, culminating in groundbreaking events such as Defender Flag and a refocused Defender Challenge. The hard work across the career field delivered results both in our base defense operations and in our ability to shape and influence the work being done for the Agile Combat Employment (ACE) scheme of maneuver. These events helped to demonstrate that with the right mindset and focus, Security Forces can be a combat capable and lethal expeditionary force for 2024 and beyond.

Our Defender Family made incredible progress - and you should be proud you were a part of that success. I am excited to watch as Defenders launch into the future with the same drive and make ourselves ready for what the future holds and what our Department of the Air Force needs.

Thank you for everything you do every day. It is not lost on us what you endure to Defend the Airmen, Guardians, Families, and Resources that collectively make us the most powerful force on Earth. Please take stock in how incredibly important each one of you are to our Defender Family and to the Department of the Air Force.

Mr Timothy A. Gerald
Acting Director Security Forces

Read the article here: Air Force Elevates USAFA Vice Superintendent to General Officer Role (airandspaceforces.com)