PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. — North American Aerospace Defense Command announced its 2006 award winners in a ceremony at its headquarters Feb. 26, 2007.
"The work you're doing is recognized at the very highest levels of government in the United States, Canada and throughout the world," said Adm. Timothy J. Keating, commander of NORAD and U.S. Northern Command. "It doesn't matter if you're military or civilian, folks are counting on you to defend the homelands of Canada and the United States."
The annual awards recognize the command's top performers in each category.
The 2006 winners are:
• Air Force Staff Sgt. Bonnie Lame Bull, Cheyenne Mountain Directorate, enlisted;
• Air Force Master Sgt. Jose Hernandez, operations directorate, senior enlisted;
• Canadian Forces Capt. Robert Harvie, training and exercise directorate, company grade officer;
• Air Force Maj. William Bowman, operations directorate, field grade officer;
• Lisa Myers, intelligence directorate, civilian employee category one;
• Brian Byrne, programs, resources and analysis directorate, civilian employee category three;
• Air Force Master Sgt. Michael Wilson, National Guard, outstanding community service - military; and
• William Walsh, programs, resources and analysis directorate, outstanding community service - civilian.
Lame Bull, an Air Warning Center technician and Common Operating Picture manager, managed 64 air events requiring tactical action and guided the AWC crew in successfully monitoring more than 200 air tracks of interest. She created Temporary Flight Restriction overlays for the air movements of the U.S. president and vice president and Canadian prime minister and, as her crew's official physical fitness leader, led the group to a 93 percent success rate. Lame Bull also completed five college courses toward her bachelor's degree and volunteered with organizations including Habitat for Humanity and Enlisted Against Drunk Driving.
Hernandez, superintendent of NORAD current operations, translated and briefed the NORAD and USNORTHCOM missions to a Mexican military delegation and was lead linguist for a team that increased the detection rate and interdiction of illegal narcotics in aircraft bound for the United States. He was pivotal in identifying and pursuing a critical information technology equipment upgrade to the Crisis Action Team facility. Hernandez also volunteers with organizations including the U.S. Air Force/Colorado Drug Reduction program, the Civil Air Patrol and Meals on Wheels.
Harvie, an exercise planner, supervised and executed all practical aspects of the simulation cell for the Vigilant Shield '07 exercise and improved NORAD simulations by providing detailed guidance to software developers. He coordinated with all of the NORAD regions and sectors, the Federal Aviation Administration, Transportation Security Administration, National Military Command Center and Cheyenne Mountain Directorate to deconflict air scenarios. Harvie also serves as unit historian for the Canadian component and actively volunteers in his church.
Bowman, director of the NORAD operations center, prepared the NORAD Crisis Action Team in response to an aircraft crash into a New York City building. He served as NORAD liaison in the Super Bowl air security operations center, ensuring interagency coordination and understanding among the Department of Defense, law enforcement, U.S. Coast Guard and Canadian Forces operations in binational airspace. Bowman also completed his master's degree and volunteers at his church.
Myers, an executive secretary, coordinates all domestic and international travel arrangements for the intelligence directorate's leadership team. She is an expert in the Defense Travel System and regularly educates more than 350 people in the directorate on the proper method for travel order processing. She guided more than 40 reports, letters and official correspondence memorandum to both internal and external organizations, on time and without error. Myers also is a Government Purchase Card cardholder entrusted with a budget of over $40,000.
Byrne, a joint capability analyst, handled Global War on Terror gap analyses that led to funding for a key study addressing methods of detecting chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and high-explosive materials. He provided expertise to the Department of Homeland Security in the development of the National Preparedness System, establishing a reporting system for homeland defense and civil support capabilities at the city, country, tribe and state levels. Byrne also volunteers for groups including the Boy Scouts, YMCA and Combined Federal Campaign.
Wilson, an administrative superintendent, served as vice president of the NORAD-USNORTHCOM Senior Enlisted Council and was chairperson of the commands' annual burger burn. He is a key member of his church stewardship committee and transports several U.S. Air Force Academy cadets between the Academy and church each week.
Walsh, a maritime capability analyst, volunteered with several organizations, including Service To Mankind, the Salvation Army, Meet the Troops, Cub Scouts and YMCA. He also helped raise funds for a food bank, raised money to purchase a hearing dog for a needy local resident and was chairman of the Monument Fourth of July parade, which drew more than 20,000 spectators.