Osan Airmen win PACAF awards

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Kevyn Allen
  • 51st Fighter Wing Public Affairs

First Lt. Nicole Velez-Rodriguez, 6th Intelligence Squadron flight commander, is awarded the National Company Grade Officers' Council (CGOC) Leader of the Quarter for her efforts in the Hispanic Osan Latino Association (HOLA) at Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea, January 12, 2022. Velez-Rodriguez serves as president of the HOLA where she directed 7 base-wide events for Hispanic Heritage Month. Velez-Rodriguez also led an Officer Career Fair where she matched enlisted members with officer career fields that best suited their interests. Every quarter the CGOC selects junior military officers from the Air and Space Forces for this award. This award was presented to Velez-Rodriguez based off of her professional development, base support initiatives, community service, and esprit de corps.

Captain Shannon Smith, 25th Fighter Squadron chief of standardization/evaluation, is awarded the Pacific Air Force 2021 Safety Officer of the Year for his contributions at Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea, January 12, 2022. Smith was selected for this award due to the risk management principles and techniques he implemented to reduce mishaps and increase the effectiveness of the mishap prevention program. Smith participated in activities involving local, national, and international safety agencies while contributing to safety publications. Smith attributes the award to the success and support of his safety team.

The 51st Logistics Readiness and Support Cargo Movement Team was awarded the Pacific Air Force 2021 Department of Defense Packaging Production Achievement Award for their efforts at Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea, January 12, 2022. The cargo team was awarded for their excellence in packing and preparation of cargo and freight. The cargo team has been selected for this award every year since 2018, making this their 4th consecutive win. The cargo team attributes their success to frequent deployments, which trains members to work at a high proficiency.