Best of the best honored at 49th Fighter Wing Annual Awards Banquet

  • Published
  • By 1st Lt. Phil Ventura
  • 49th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
Team Holloman honored its best and brightest in the 49th Fighter Wing Feb. 24 at the Annual Awards Banquet held in the base Enlisted Club. 

More than 40 Airmen and civilians were recognized as nominees in ten distinct categories. A large and small squadron were also recognized as "the best," in 2006 from among the groups in the wing. 

Award winners were both surprised and humble about being recognized for their accomplishments. 

"I wasn't expecting it and was really shocked," said Senior Airman Janice Norwood, who won Airman of the year. 

Airman Norwood works in the 49th Medical Group's Tricare office as a technician. She says that doing good work consistently is an important trait for Airmen to have. 

Mr. Philip Korbakes, an industrial security program manager with the 49th Security Forces squadron won in the Civilian II category, which is reserved for GS employees between the seven and ten levels. 

"A lot of my success has to do with working with people like Teddy Beldad and CJ Cooper, I wouldn't have gotten this without their support," he said. 

Next, the winners will compete in their respective categories at the command-level. 

The 49th Operations Group Operations Support Squadron was recognized as the best large squadron from the wing. The squadron hosts a variety of missions vital to operations on base, including: the Intelligence, Airfield Operations, Current Operations, Weapons and Training, Low Observable and Weather Flights. 

The 49th Aeromedical Dental Squadron, part of the 49th Medical Group, captured the 
small squadron award. 

Brigadier General David Goldfein, 49th Fighter Wing commander, ended the evening by congratulating the award winners and nominees and remarking that this was the best Annual Awards banquet he had ever attended. 

Award winners:

Airman of the Year
Senior Airman Janice Norwood

NCO of the Year
Technical Sergeant Charles Veillon

SNCO of the Year
Senior Master Sergeant Larry Blume

First Sergeant of the Year
Master Sergeant Mauree Powell

CGO of the Year
Captain Jay Bertsch

Field Grade Officer of the Year
Major Nathan Clemmer

Civilian Category I
Mr. Antonio Biancaniello

Civilian Category II
Mr. Phillip Korbakes

Civilian Category III
Mr. Edward Morse

Honor Guard member of the Year
Senior Airman Keith Harris