Emergency Management Citations

Readiness and Plans Technician

Senior Airman KATRINA E. NICOLE distinguished herself by meritorious service as Readiness and Plans Technician, 49th Force Support Squadron, Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico from 1 August 2022 to 12 March 2026. During this period, Airman Nicole tracked 305 clearance revalidations, corrected six record discrepancies in coordination with Wing Information Protection to ensure one hundred percent accuracy, and as sole Defense Travel System administrator, oversaw $281,000 while approving 35 temporary duty authorizations and vouchers and creating 14 civilian profiles for mortuary-related expenses, reducing processing time by five percent and managing logistics that anchored $250,000 in travel funds to optimize mass out-processing and enable Agile Combat Employment in support of Great Power Competition. She revitalized the Self-Assessment Program, directing three inspections across seven flights to drive unit compliance to 97.5 percent, instituted a 203-line item order form saving $12,000 annually and cutting waste by forty percent, launched a $15,000 nonappropriated fund operation, producing 137 menu items for 5,000 customers, completed government purchase card certification to execute a $75,000 budget, led 23 emergency management personnel during the Wing Operational Readiness Inspection, updated 15 Air and Space Expeditionary Force indicators to align with force generation priorities, and built critical tracking systems that increased menu variety and balanced personnel rotations. The distinctive accomplishments of Senior Airman KATRINA E. NICOLE reflect credit upon herself and the United States Air Force.

Emergency Management Journeyman

Senior Airman Amy Giorgio distinguished herself by outstanding achievement as an Emergency Management Journeyman, 54th Civil Engineer Squadron, Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma, from 17 July 2023 to 5 August 2026. During this period, Airman Giorgio advanced her seven-level training by three months, completed seventy percent of required tasks, and corrected more than ten discrepancies in the wing hazardous material response plan. Additionally, her actions prevented delays to emergency responders and contributed to an outstanding base exercise rating. Furthermore, Airman Giorgio corrected twenty-two errors in the chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear training newsletter and coordinated expanded publicity, increasing class utilization from twenty to ninety-five percent. Moreover, she corrected seven training items, eliminated one unnecessary training hour, and instructed four classes, enhancing the deployment readiness of sixty-four personnel. Finally, Airman Giorgio's efforts strengthened installation preparedness and force survivability. The distinctive accomplishments of Senior Airman Giorgio reflect credit upon herself and the United States Air Force.

Emergency Management Logistics Manager

Senior Airman Amber M. Harvey distinguished herself by meritorious service while serving as Emergency Management Logistics Manager, 149th Civil Engineer Squadron, 149th Fighter Wing, Lackland AFB, Texas, from XXXXXXXXXX to XXXXXXXXXX. During this period, Airman Harvey quickly contributed to Wing readiness by effectively training members to perform their duties in a contaminated environment. Airman Harvey's efforts were documented in numerous classroom training critiques as "informative and relevant." Her technical knowledge and meticulous attention to detail contributed immeasurably to the Operational Readiness Inspection rating of "Outstanding" for Contingency Operations. Additionally, she was recognized as a "Superior Performer" by the Twelfth Air Force Inspector Gerneral. Further, Airman Harvey volunteered as instructor for the unit's Self Aid and Buddy Care Program where she improved the completion rate from 20 percent to 100 percent. The distinctive accomplishments of Senior Airman Harvey reflect credit upon herself, the 149th Civil Engineer Squadron, and the United States Air Force.

Lead Instructor, Emergency Management Contingency Training

Staff Sergeant Wayne E. Trauth distinguished himself by meritorious service while assigned as Lead Instructor, Emergency Management Contingency Training, 435th Contingency Training Squadron, 86th Contingency Response Group, Ramstein Air Base, Germany from XXXXXXXXXX to XXXXXXXXXX. During this period, Sergeant Trauth provided superb oversight for United States Air Forces in Europe Silver Flag and Full Spectrum Threat Response Strike training programs. His instruction ensured the successful delivery of 29 Silver Flag and Full Spectrum Threat Response courses to 440 trainees, enhancing the Global War on Terrorism and Wartime Mobility efforts. Additionally, Sergeant Trauth was instrumental in the revision of the Silver Flag contingency curriculum for the Emergency Management career field. His innovative approach facilitated the development of 20 lesson plans and scenarios for 1,400 Emergency Managers Air Force wide. Finally, Sergeant Trauth's inspiring efforts were recognized with the 86th Construction Training Squadron and USAFE Instructor of the Year awards. The distinctive accomplishments of Staff Sergeant Trauth reflect great credit upon himself, the 435th Contingency Training Squadron, and the United States Air Force.

NCOIC, Emergency Management

Staff Sergeant John J. Knisley distinguished himself by meritorious service while assigned as NCOIC, Emergency Management, 149th Civil Engineer Squadron, 149th Fighter Wing, Lackland AFB, Texas, from XXXXXXXXXX to XXXXXXXXXX. During this period, Staff Sergeant Knisley devoted himself to improving the 149th Fighter Wing Emergency Response Program. He developed and implemented an aggressive schedule to ensure 100% wing participation in the CBRNE Unit Scheduler program. His efforts were recognized by both the 37th Training Wing at Lackland Air Force Base and the National Guard Bureau of Emergency Management as the most effective program to ensure wing-wide CBRNE training requirements compliance. In addition, Sergeant Knisley deployed to support every major hurricane response during his tenure. His duties while deployed varied from providing security and operating a decontamination station to delivering food and water to displaced citizens. His actions improved the safety and welfare of over 20,000 civilian and military personnel. Finally, during the Operational Readiness Inspection he was recognized as a "Superior Performer" for his technical knowledge and meticulous attention to detail during the Base Recovery After Attack Exercise and contributed immeasurably to the overall rating of "Excellent" for the Civil Engineer Squadron. The distinctive accomplishments of Staff Sergeant Knisley reflect credit upon himself, the 149th Civil Engineer Squadron, and the United States Air Force.

NCOIC, Emergency Management Plans and Operations

Staff Sergeant Tyler A. Barkacs distinguished himself by meritorious service while assigned as NCOIC, Emergency Management Plans and Operations, 628th Civil Engineer Squadron, 628th Mission Support Group, Joint Base Charleston, South Carolina from XXXXX XXXXX to XXXXX XXXXX. During this period, Staff Sergeant Barkacs managed Joint Base Charleston's Emergency Management Staff Assistance Visit program for 54 tenant units, ensuring they were prepared to sustain operations under all conditions. In addition, he assisted in Joint Base Charleston's shelter in place program, coordinating the sharing of resources, and ensuring 100% compliance with Headquarters, Air Mobility Command standards. Finally, he maintained seven million dollars in deployable and home station response equipment which facilitated the unit's successful completion of eight chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear exercises where, as the strike team chief, he led a 12-member team. The distinctive accomplishments of Staff Sergeant Barkacs reflect credit upon himself, the 628th Civil Engineer Squadron and the United States Air Force.

Emergency Management Craftsman

Senior Airman Dana D. Blair distinguished herself by meritorious service as Emergency Management Craftsman, 51st Civil Engineer Squadron, 51st Mission Support Group, 51st Fighter Wing, Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea. During this period, Airman Blair managed the largest Emergency Management Program in a High Threat Area consisting of 31 host, tenant, and geographically separated units. She revitalized the Wing's peacetime Shelter-In-Place program, coordinating safe room selection and supply kit requirements with facility managers for 102 buildings, providing protected spaces for 5,000 Airmen. In addition, she was the lead technician during a revitalization of Osan Air Base's $2.2 billion wartime shelter facility program. Further, she oversaw shelter management team training and requirements for 102 buildings that provided protection for five thousand Airmen. Finally, as Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and High Yield Explosives Cell supervisor her leadership contributed to the Wing's overall "Excellent" rating during the 2011 Headquarters Pacific Air Forces' Operational Readiness Inspection. The distinctive accomplishments of Airman Blair reflect great credit upon herself, the 51st Civil Engineer Squadron and the United States Air Force.

Readiness & Emergency Management Flight Journeyman

Staff Sergeant Aaron C. Burnley distinguished himself by meritorious service while serving as Readiness and Emergency Management Flight Journeyman, 375th Civil Engineer Squadron, 375th Mission Support Group, 375th Air Mobility Wing, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. During this period, Sergeant Burnley was responsible for Wing Emergency Response plans and ensured the maintenance and fielding of 1.5 million dollars in response equipment. Additionally, his diligent efforts in preparing 255 training folders with zero discrepancies contributed to an "Excellent" flight rating during the 2007 Air Mobility Command Inspector General Unit Compliance Inspection. In addition, Sergeant Burnley overhauled the Al Udied Air Base Defense Cell, improving command and control and creating a new base emergency crash grid. Furthermore, he applied Air Force Smart Operations 21 initiatives to the Emergency Management Staff Assistance Program, increasing response capability by 20 percent for 34 unit programs. Finally, Sergeant Burnley's outstanding leadership across the full spectrum of Emergency Management was critical to his unit winning the 2010 "Best Civil Engineer Squadron" award. The distinctive accomplishments of Staff Sergeant Burnley reflect great credit upon himself, the 375th Civil Engineer Squadron and the United States Air Force.