WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio -- The 445th Airlift Wing is proud to announce the following Airmen as the second quarter CY 21 award winners;
Airman of the Quarter
Senior Airman Wally Jniyah, 445th Operations Support Squadron cyber systems surety journeyman, is the 445th Airlift Wing Airman of the Quarter. Jniyah issued 600 communications security kits and enabled two deployed major weapons systems secure communication with coalition aircraft, resulting in 250 combat missions and 6 million pounds of fuel off-loaded. He led a combat crew forward deployment exercise supporting 19 combat missions and included supporting the first combat missions from Saudi Arabia in 30 years. He developed a secure communications maintenance program after a civilian contract supported was lost; resulting in complete coverage over Afghanistan for ground troops. Jniyah volunteered for a Central Command deployment short-fall, filling a critically manned unit type code is support of Operations Freedom’s Sentinel and Inherent Resolve. He completed five different Arabic Defense Language Proficiency Tests and served as a backup translator for the deployed wing commander.
NCO of the Quarter
Tech. Sgt. Michael Wilson, 445th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron aircraft maintenance craftsman, is the 445th Airlift Wing NCO of the Quarter. As a dedicated crew chief, Wilson was responsible for 25 sorties with zero aborts and led the Home Station Check inspection while training four Airmen resulting in 1,300 hours worldwide. Wilson worked 703 hours, 53 sorties and 154 flying hours, enabled aeromedical evacuation missions and special operations redeploy. He was the mission essential personnel member for an Army and loadmaster training event; the mission’s tempo doubled when a C-5 Galaxy was grounded. He was recognized in a laudatory letter from the aircraft commander. Wilson has a Bachelor of Science degree in aviation management from Embry-Riddle University and his Federal Aviation Administration aircraft maintenance certificates and is a trained pilot. He authorized and taught 30 hours in a flying crew chief class, enabling six Airmen to be trained and fulfilled their critical training requirements.
Senior NCO of the Quarter
Master Sgt. La Sal Austin, 87th Aerial Port Squadron cargo supervisor, is the 445th Airlift Wing Senior NCO of the Quarter. Austin managed the completion of 389 core and duty tasks, validating the training quality of 17 Airmen; increasing the total force deployability rate by 198 percent. He oversaw the Health Protection Condition D pandemic exercise where he helped prepare the movement of 44 pallets, 25 passengers and 10 missions validated rapid mobility. Austin coordinated the Cargo Global Air Transportation Execution System class allowing 17 members to accomplish initial and refresher training, increasing squadron readiness by 120 percent. The master sergeant led 20 volunteers serving 405 hours of community cleanup. His team landscaped and beautified a local healthcare center, bolstering base-community relations. Austin directed the 87th APS workshop, facilitating 12 members in a bullet-writing class, empowering squadron leaders and enhancing the enlisted performance report (EPR) program for 175 squadron members.
Company Grade Officer of the Quarter
Capt. Kelly Bergelin-Lomeli, 445th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron ground unit type code operations training officer in charge, is the 445th Airlift Wing Company Grade Officer of the Quarter. Bergelin-Lomeli was the Advanced Operational Node team leader who oversaw the material operations from conception to close, resulting in all sites 100 percent functional with full operations. She was the logistics subject matter expert and officer in charge of six members where she coordinated the separation and deployment of 58 equipment and supplies pallets to four care sites with zero mission downtime. She was hand-selected as the innovative readiness training OIC helping deliver $859,000 worth of medical care to 1,500 patients during East Central Georgia IRT. The IRT improved quality of life across four counties. Bergelin-Lomeli created the first aeromedical evacuation operations team program, where she trained more than 20 Airmen ensuring ground operations qualification. The captain completed Squadron Officer School.