A celebration fit for Holloman's maintainers

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman DeAndre Curtiss
  • 49th Wing Public Affairs
HOLLOMAN AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. --  What do you get when you have more than 300 Holloman AFB maintainers together in a hangar? You get chants like "Nothing but the best, AMXS!" You get horns, cannon blasts, and the grim reaper. And you get an American hero as a guest speaker.

There was all this and more as maintainers, family and friends attended the 2011 Maintenance Professional off the Year banquet March 9.

"This was an amazing event, and it means so much more than just handing out awards," said Col. Kenneth Johnson, 49th Maintenance Group commander. "Everybody in this room is a winner because everybody in this room helps to keep our skies safe."

Members of the 49th Maintenance Group recognized and congratulated Airmen on a job well done within 33 different categories from the previous year. Each category included several Airmen nominated based on superior performance in their job by their supervisor. To become the winner, they compete at the squadron level by submission of an award nomination package, and the winner from each squadron then competes at the group level.

The prelude to the awards presentation was a guest speaker who is a wounded warrior and American hero. Technical Sgt. Matthew Slaydon (ret.), was invited to speak to all in attendance at the banquet about his career and experiences. Slaydon began his career as an aircraft armament technician in 1989. After nine years, he took a three-year break, only to return to service as an explosive ordnance disposal technician. On his third combat tour in 2007, he was the victim of an improvised explosive device blast which left him totally blind, without his left arm, and with multiple facial fractures.

"The world dropped from beneath me. I truly wish that I had died," said Slaydon. "I was pissed off, not at the Air Force or the United States, but at the person who chose to plant that bomb."

Slaydon had a long process to recover from the traumatic events of that day. He and his wife Annette has since found a purpose in informing service members that even though they are wounded it doesn't mean they are defeated.

"The oath of enlistment that I took was so important to me that I felt that I was still Tech Sgt. Slaydon, an EOD guy, and if I quit now than that bomb maker wins and he cannot win," he said.

At the end of his speech, Kennedy presented Slaydon with a token of appreciation for coming to speak to the group.

All award winners will compete against other winners from Air Force Air Combat Command, and if they win they will go on to compete at the group level.

Award Winners

49th Maintenance Group Key Spouse of the Year
Ms. Stacey Wolfe, 49 AMXS

Aircraft Maintenance Category Technician of the Year
Senior Airman Christopher Essue, 49 AMXS

Aircraft Maintenance Category Technician Supervisor of the Year
Technical Sgt. Joshua Goers, 849 AMXS

Aircraft Maintenance Supervisor Manager of the Year
Senior Master Sergeant Brian Wagner, 849 AMXS

Aircraft Maintenance Category Company Grade Manager of the Year
1st Lieutenant Michael Mattingly, 49 AMXS

Aircraft Maintenance Category Field Grade Manager of the Year
Major Albert Smith, 49 MXS

Munitions Maintenance Category Technician of the Year
Senior Airman Benjamin Sanchez, 49 MXS

Munitions Maintenance Category Technician Supervisor of the Year
Technical Sgt. Thomas Podgorski, 49 AMXS

Munitions Maintenance Category Supervisor Manager of the Year
Master Sgt. Scott Stewart, 49 MOS

Munitions Maintenance Category Civilian Technician of the Year
Mr. Toby Parlet, 49 MXS

49th Maintenance Group Training Manager of the Year
Technical Sgt. Stephanie Ruepp, 49 MXS

49th Maintenance Group MTF Instructor of the Year
Technical Sgt. Jason Willimans, 49 MOS

49th Maintenance Group Scheduler of Year
Senior Airman Koua Umeno, 49 MOS
Technical Sgt. Ladylynne Parr, 49 MOS

49th Maintenance Group Analyst of the Year
Senior Airman Patrick Condon, 49 MOS
Staff Sgt. Micheal Bourell, 49 MOS

49th Maintenance Group Armament Technician of the Year
Senior Airman Larry Vigil III, 49 MXS

49th Maintenance Group Armament Supervisor of the Year
Technical Sgt. Jason Linnabary, 49 MXS

49th Maintenance Group Armament Manager of the Year
Master Sgt. Chad Parker, 49 MXS

49th Maintenance Group Munitions Maintenance Technician of the Year
Senior Airman Joseph Mazure, 49 MXS

49th Maintenance Group Munitions Maintenance Supervisor of the Year
Technical Sgt. Jason Linnabary, 49 MXS

49th Maintenance Group Munitions Maintenance Manager of the Year
Master Sgt. Chad Parker, 49 MXS

49th Maintenance Group Load Crew of the Year
Crew 7-15 (49 AMXS)
Staff Sgt. Jacob Nieto
Senior Airman Sean Ivers
Senior Airman Austin Blomquist

Crew 41 (849 AMXS)
Staff Sgt. Tylor Kearney
Senior Jose Morin
Senior Airman Jason Tymkowiche

49 AMXS CMSAF Thomas Barnes Award
Staff Sgt. Frederick Koval, 49 AMXS

849 AMXS CMSAF Thomas Barnes Award
Staff Sgt. Jesse Bramblett, 849 AMXS

49th Maintenance Group Maintenance Support Professional of the Year
Senior Airman Aaron Stover, 49 MXS
Staff Sgt. Christopher Smith, 49 MXS

49th Maintenance Group Maintenance Specialist Professional of the Year
Airman 1st Class Colin Landry, 849 AMXS
Staff Sgt. Travis Shideler, 49 AMXS

49th Maintenance Group Maintenance Professional of the Year
Airman 1st Class Antonio Jimenez, 49 AMXS
Technical Sgt. Steven Kisher, 849 AMXS
Senior Master Sgt. John Moore, 849 AMXS
1st Lieutenant Michael Mattingly, 49 AMXS