Team Vance senior airmen earn command recognition in career fields

  • Published
  • By MSgt George F. Jozens
  • Public Affairs
Vance Air Force Base, Okla. --  Two Team Vance Airmen were named the best in Air Education and Training Command in their perspective career fields.
A1C Andrew Heckathorn is the Airman winner of the AETC 2003 Aviation Resource Management Award and SrA Amanda Mills has earned the distinction of being the 2003 AETC Public Affairs Director Outstanding Warrior of the Year.
Airman Heckathorn, as an operations resource management journeyman, had the perseverance, leadership and job performance to far exceed that of his peers; he possessed skills and the decisiveness necessary to perform duties flawlessly in a fast-paced, highly demanding and undermanned career field, according to his commander's nomination.
"Airman Heckathorn is truly deserving of this award," said Lt Col Leonard Litton, 25th Flying Training Squadron commander. "He is the epitome of professionalism and dedication to duty. His outstanding work ethic will take him far in our Air Force."
As the 25th Flying Training Squadron converted from the T-38A to the T-38C certain mission essential tasks had to be completed.
Airman Heckathorn was handpicked to track flying hour progress for two separate programs, according to his nomination. He reconciled daily sorties with T-38 maintenance with zero deviations during the 18,196 T-38A and 430
T-38C flying hours.
SrA Mills established herself as a public affairs expert at 14th and 71st Flying Training Wings and 321st Air Expeditionary Wing, according to her nomination package. Her accomplishments supported operations in both ENDURING FREEDOM and IRAQI FREEDOM. She directly contributed to public awareness of both operations in Iraq, Afghanistan and the Horn of Africa.
"Congratulations to the public affairs competitors," said Lt Gen John Hooper, AETC vice commander, in his announcement message. "Thank you for your continuing efforts to keep our Air Force people and the American public informed and supportive of their Air Force."
The Air Force director of public affairs singled out Airman Mills as an OIF PA star because of her superb deployed performance! The package continued to explain she briefed a four-star audience and U.S. Air Force functional leaders on PA challenges during an OIF hotwash at the Pentagon.