Electronic Warfare Group earns major awards Published Oct. 18, 2013 By Samuel King Jr. Team Eglin Public Affairs EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- The 53rd Electronic Warfare Group recently picked up some "hardware" for its continuous mission data software advancement efforts and many other EW achievements. The 36th Electronic Warfare Squadron was the big winner earning an Air Force Outstanding Unit award and five individual awards from the Association of Old Crows. The AOC is a non-profit organization that promotes the exchange of new ideas and information and the dissemination of new research and knowledge in the fields of electronic warfare and information operations. "Winning the Outstanding Unit Award is a perfect way to recognize the monumental accomplishments of the 36th EWS over the last two years, and I consider myself lucky to be counted among these brilliant professionals," said Lt. Col. Rob Epstein, 36th EWS commander. "Having five members of our squadron also recognized for their individual accomplishments nationally only reinforces the squadron's heritage of excellence and the quality of its members." The outstanding unit award was for accomplishments performed from 2011 through 2012. According to the award citation, during that time, the 36th EWS released 91 electronic warfare mission data updates in support of various overseas operations and 301 total mission data loads, supporting aircrew training and test programs and ensuring the combat air force was prepared for contingency operations. The squadron's Airmen led 13 lab, ground and flight exploitations of foreign threat systems developing new self-protection jamming techniques and increasing the survivability of combat aircraft while supporting 14 aircraft and software upgrade programs. The 36th EWS AOC award winners were: 1st Lt. Patrick Hunt - Stanley Hall EW Business Management award James Hurst - Jerry Sowell Radio Frequency award Angel Ramos - Electro-Optical-Infrared (EO-IR) award Lance Hofman - McMullin Test & Evaluation award Tech. Sgt. Jason Stegeman, a former 36th EWS "Gremlin," now with the 16th Electronic Warfare Squadron, also won an award from the AOC for EW logistics. He said it was a complete surprise and honor to win and added that even before he'd completed his technical training in EW 15 years ago, he remembered hearing about the AOC. "I didn't realize I'd been put in for the award," said Stegeman. "My flight commander handed me a letter from the AOC saying I'd won. To be recognized by your peers is the greatest accomplishment one can receive. " After earning five individual awards from the AOC, also was the top choice for the organization's Electronic Warfare Unit of the Year.