The North American Aerospace Defense Command and the United States Space Command recognized their annual awards winners during a luncheon Feb. 7, at the Peterson Air Force Base Enlisted Club.
More than 300 personnel attended the ceremony. The Air Force Band of the Rockies Blue Steel Protocol combo provided the entertainment and Tech Sgt. Timothy Wilson sang a moving rendition of both national anthems.
General Ralph E. Eberhart, the Commander in Chief for NORAD/USSPACECOM, officiated.
The selection process began with nominations submitted to NORAD / USSPACECOM Personnel Division, the second week of January. A board met to evaluate each nomination and score the packages. Nominees were evaluated on leadership and job performance, self-improvement and base and community involvement. In addition to the package review, all military nominees met an oral board. Members answered questions about military knowledge, customs and courtesies, and current events. Scores were based on how well they answered the questions as well as their communication skills and overall appearance.
The board submitted its first place choices to General Eberhart, who approved the selections.
NORAD Junior Enlisted
Senior Airman Kathryn Romer, USAF, is an Emergency Actions Controller at Cheyenne Mountain. As a controller, Romer built and maintained the Noble Eagle Conference and processed the real-world Emergency action Messages in response to the tragic events of Sept. 11th. She was the NORAD Junior Enlisted of the Quarter, CMOC Junior Enlisted of the Year and was hand-picked to represent the Cheyenne Mountain Operations Center to visiting dignitaries.
USSPACECOM Junior Enlisted
Cpl. Sarah Schmidt, USMC, is a Training NCO for U.S. Space Operations (J36). She was a key player in re-certifying the alternate Space Operations Center in Cheyenne Mountain. Schmidt developed the Operation SPOC THUNDER procedure to ensure a seamless transition of SPOC operations. She developed a monthly training package for SPOC crews. As active off-duty as on, she is also a member of both the USMC and Joint Honor Guards.
NORAD NCO
Staff Sgt. John Clarke, USAF, is the NCOIC for graphics at the Cheyenne Mountain Operations Center. He established a Public Affairs Media Center and the ?first? Public Affairs Operations Center inside the mountain in response to the Sept. 11th attacks. Clarke graduated from the Community College of the Air Force with a degree in Audiovisual Production services. Always a key member of his community he single-handedly raised over $5,000 for various charitable organizations.
USSPACECOM NCO
Staff Sgt. Elvin Sanders, USAF, is the NCOIC, Assignments and Training for the Air Force Element (J1). He forged the first-ever agreement with the Air Force Personnel Center to permit exchange of enlisted members between our two commands, a task many said couldn't be done. Sanders also completed a web site administrator's course, enhancing site's user friendliness and relevancy. As a community member he provides assistance to numerous agencies including the US Association of Blind Athletes and Pike's Peak Hospice.
USSPACECOM Reserve NCO
Staff Sgt. Rex Scifres, USAFR, is a Website Production Specialist for the Combined Intelligence Center. He served as the section task leader for the massive Joint Intelligence Preparation of the Battle Space web production effort. Scifres was also awarded a Community College of the Air Force degree in Information Communications. As a volunteer he authored a website for a martial arts organization.
NORAD Senior NCO
Senior Master Sgt. Rickey McCaslan, USAF, is the Superintendent of the NORAD Operations Division. He is an acclaimed C2 expert who was the Air Combat Command "by-name" request to author training/ standardization instructions for the NORAD Region Air Operations Centers. McCaslan completed a Bachelor of Science Degree in Organizational Management from Colorado Christian University. As a member of the Order of the Sword and Order of the Mountaineer Committees he was instrumental in providing support for these prestigious awards.
USSPACECOM Senior NCO
Master Sgt. Daniel Hatcher, USAF, is the Superintendent for the Intelligence Systems Operations Center for the Directorate of Intelligence. He was hand picked to stand up the first-ever Intelligence System Operations Center in Cheyenne Mountain, and did so without a hitch. Hatcher overhauled his section's training plan, dramatically raising first-look maintenance resolution rate. A community leader, he donated countless hours to the Salvation Army and built a web presence and relational database for a local autism group.
NORAD Company Grade Officer
Capt. Phil Forward, Canadian Air Force, is the Strategic Forces Section Chief for the Directorate of Intelligence. He produced the first-ever synchronized intelligence and operations indications & warning timeline to coordinate NORAD's response to air sovereignty threats. Forward was provided crucial insight as a Delegate to the Canadian Professional Development Working Group. A true leader, he was selected President of the NORAD Canadian Hockey League, and earned MVP honors as a member of the NORAD Canadian Hockey team during the Canadian Western Region Hockey Championships.
USSPACECOM Company Grade Officer
Capt. Ronald Creech, USAF, is the Executive Officer for the Commander, Cheyenne Mountain Operations Center. He processed data to decision-makers during the high-profile de-orbit of the Russian MIR space station. He volunteered to serve as a NORAD Battle Staff Executive Officer In support of Operation NOBLE EAGLE. As Vice President of the Rocky Mountain Rapids Swim Club, Creech helped organize and plan the Second Annual Turkey Classic swimming meet.
NORAD Reserve Officer
Maj. Glen Wilcox, USAR, works for the Center for Aerospace Analysis. He developed and improved visual analysis representations that rapidly and intuitively provided key decision makers with needed information. He provided a detailed analysis of high-resolution Missile Defense radars showing reasonable cost during initial deployment with greatly increased performance. As a community member, Wilcox is a lead diver who saved another diver by pulling him to safety during an unexpected storm.
USSPACECOM Reservist of the Year
Lt. Cmdr. Charles Passaglia, USNR, is an Assistant Legal Advisor to the Staff Judge Advocate. As the sole legal advisor in the NORAD battle management center during the Sept. 11th attacks, he single-handedly advised the battle staffs on legal aspects of rules of engagement and use of force. Passaglia presented personnel briefings on the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act and the Soldiers and Sailors Relief Act to NORAD/USSPACECOM and AFSPSC. He conducted seminars to local employers outlining their legal responsibilities to Guard and Reserve members.
NORAD Civilian (Category I)
Ms. Gale Burtt is the Secretary, C2 Systems Directorate in the Cheyenne Mountain Operations Center. Here she automated the director's and director's staff's calendar, providing real time personnel tracking. She learned the Front Page web page creation software, greatly increasing office capability. As a community member, Burtt is a leader in the Care and Share Program, providing assistance to those less fortunate.
USSPACECOM Civilian (Category I)
Mrs. Marie Coney is a Computer Specialist, Manpower and Personnel Directorate in the Cheyenne Mountain Operations Center. She completely updated the ODESSY manpower and training requirements database for 375 personnel. She attended FrontPage, HTML, Access, and Excel software courses which greatly added to division productiveness. As a community leader, Coney volunteers as a parent advisor for the Imagination in Education Daycare Center.
NORAD Civilian (Category II)
Ms. Margaret Petrowske is the Executive Secretary to the Commander, Cheyenne Mountain Operations Center. She effortlessly melds the commanders numerous requirements to get the job done. To further hone her people and management skills and techniques, she attended an 8-hour women's conference. A lauded community member, Petrowske was awarded the "Top Education Provider Volunteer Service Award" by the Colorado Department of Corrections.
USSPACECOM Civilian (Category II)
Mr. Robert Connally is an Imagery Data System Administrator for the Directorate of Intelligence (J2). He was the key manager for the three million dollar NORAD/USSPACECOM Dissemination Element, the command's sole near-real time imagery receipt system. The epitome of initiative, he created a self-study program on system maintenance and hardware documentation, greatly enhancing our mission success. As a community leader, Connally provided countless hours of support to Trinity United Methodist Church enhancing a strong societal foundation.