Vance journalist recognized at DoD level

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Amanda Savannah
  • Public Affairs
Vance Air Force Base, Okla. --  When Frank McIntyre photographed the final flight of an outgoing 71st Flying Training Wing commander last year, he tried to put a fresh angle to the routine assignment.
His judgment recently won him the highest award possible for a military journalist -- the Department of Defense Thomas Jefferson Award.
To be eligible for the TJ award, applicants must first win at their command and service levels. Mr. McIntyre, public affairs chief of internal information, previously won the 2005 Air Education and Training Command and Air Force-level awards in the Stand-Alone Photograph category for his submission, titled "Standing Ovation."
"It's always rewarding anytime you're recognized for your efforts," the Skowhegan, Maine, native said. "The TJ Awards are special because they are essentially awards for creativity in the arts. But realistically, taking an award-winning photograph is often a matter of being in the right place at the right time. This signifies I was able to take advantage of being in that place to capture a critical moment.
"I was somewhat surprised I won the award, because it was for a somewhat routine event. But I knew all the elements were included to make a dramatic impact on the viewers, and I'm glad the judges recognized even something routine can be done differently."
The Thomas Jefferson Awards Program recognizes military and civilian employee print and broadcast journalists for outstanding achievements in furthering the objectives of the Department of Defense internal information program. Other TJ Award categories include Outstanding New Writer, Art/Graphics In Support Of a Publication, Outstanding New Broadcaster and Television Information Program.
Mr. McIntyre's path to excellence began long before he was a military journalist.
"I had worked for a weekly newspaper starting when I was a sophomore in high school," he said. "By my senior year, I was working for a daily as a reporter and photographer."
He then decided his skills could be used in the Air Force. He attended basic training in 1969, taking a bypass test in photography because there wasn't one available for the information office, which was the precursor to today's public affairs career field.
"I left basic as a 3-level photographer, and remained a photographer until December 1980," Mr. McIntyre said. "I then cross trained into public affairs - attending technical school for the first time as a technical sergeant - where I remained until I retired as a master sergeant in January 1990."
While in service, Mr. McIntyre honed his skills during several highlighted assignments.
"I had a lot of memorable experiences, from meeting and photographing VIPs (including five Presidents and many celebrities), to flying on a helicopter with a family of tranquilized bears, to pulling polar bear watch on an assignment above the Arctic Circle -- as well as some low lights including aircraft crashes, crime scenes and autopsies."
Mr. McIntyre returned to the Air Force public affairs environment as a civilian in 2003.
"Things have definitely changed, and some for the better," he said. "I like the ability to save photos digitally, because I've lost paper copies of ones I've taken over the years because of environmental elements."
One of the benefits of being a TJ Award recipient is being able to receive it personally at the Defense Information School at Fort Meade, Md.
"I'm excited to be able to go back to the east coast and get some fresh seafood," Mr. McIntyre said. "As for the ceremony itself, it gives me the opportunity to see some old friends as well as see the new PA training facilities; DINFOS was at Fort Benjamin Harrison in Indianapolis when I was on active duty."
Capt. Tony Wickman, public affairs chief, believes Mr. McIntyre is well deserving of this recognition.
"Frank's award-winning photo is indicative of his dedication to his tradecraft," Captain Wickman said. "The Thomas Jefferson Awards are used to stimulate and reward excellence and professionalism in military print media, and they made a great selection."