Eglin Airmen take four annual AFMC awards

  • Published
  • By AFMC Public Affairs
The Annual Excellence Award Banquet March 7, served as the venue to honor Air Force Materiel Command’s top Airmen for 2017.

Eglin's Airmen took four of the nine awards for this year.

Nominees in nine separate categories -- airman, non-commissioned officer, senior NCO, first sergeant, company grade officer, field grade officer, civilian category I, civilian category II and civilian category III-competed from throughout AFMC's headquarters, centers and wings.

Senior Master Sgt. Matthew Hose, Maj. Kelly Mattie, Bruce Ehrenberger and Robert Daniels claimed annual awards in their respective categories.

Senior NCO - As Munitions Flight Materiel Section Chief, 96th Maintenance Group, Hose’s leadership was pivotal to his flight supporting the Air Force’s first-ever testing of light aircraft as a close-air-support force multiplier. He ensured six live bombs were prepared, inspected and shipped to the test range in under six hours versus the one-week standard. Also, he developed and implemented a combat munitions crew chief course that will qualify 18 deployed persons each year.

Field Grade Officer - Mattie, as an explosive ordnance disposal commander, was responsible for leading the Air Force's busiest explosive ordnance disposal unit through execution of 450 operations accounting for 70 percent of the command’s missions. He was by-name requested to direct the Pacific Command's EOD contingency plan development, posturing friendly forces to meet uprising theater threats. Mattie mobilized the first EOD capabilities within Syria.

Civilian I - Ehrenberger distinguished himself as lead firefighter by overseeing a four-member crew, 13,000 man-hours, 480 training hours, a $1.2 million vehicle fleet, and 126 emergency responses. As the first responder at a fire involving the world’s largest climatic lab, he directed extinguishment actions saving the $500 million testing facility. He also completed an emerging leaders course while simultaneously adding nine college credit hours toward his associate degree in the landmark Air University civilian degree program.

Civilian II - D
aniels distinguished himself as Materiel Management Flight Chief by providing expedited recovery for 475 repairable F-35 assets back into the supply pipeline, reducing the return days from 31 to three days. Additionally, Daniels' leadership guided the Arnold Engineering & Development Center compliant solution for a 43 million dollar asset stockpile, closing a 60 year accountability gap.ward this year.

Gen. Ellen Pawlikowski, AFMC commander, was the proud hostess of the ceremony for family, friends, community leaders and command officials gathered in the Modern Flight Gallery of the National Museum of the United States Air Force.

“Tonight we’re recognizing 61 Airmen who make me proud to wear this uniform. I can’t imagine a better place to be than here to celebrate,” said Pawlikowski.