127th Wing Names Outstanding Airmen of Year

Published Dec. 18, 2015
By Tech. Sgt. Dan Heaton
127th Wing

SELFRIDGE AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Mich. -- Seven Airmen of the 127th Wing were named as the Wing's Outstanding Airmen of the Year during an Annual Awards Ceremony.

Winning the honors were:
· Senior Airman Matthew Thornton, 127th Operations Group, Airman of the Year
· Staff Sgt. Matthew Rygwelski, 127th Mission Support Group, Non-commissioned Officer of the Year
· Master Sgt. Christopher Tarquino, 127th Mission Support Group, Senior Non-commissioned Officer of the Year
· Master Sgt. Lyle Black, 127th Medical Group, the Wing's First Sergeant of the year
· Senior Airman Shane Shaltry, 127th Mission Support Group, the Wing's Honor Guard Member of the Year
· Capt. Russell Overton, 127th Operations Group, Company Grade Officer of the Year
· Major David Nicholson, 127th Air Refueling Group, winner of the Wing Commander's Trophy

In addition, Major Shannon Vickers, an A-10 Thunderbolt II pilot with the 107th Fighter Squadron, was presented with the Wing's annual Safety Award, for his airmanship in successfully handling an emergency during takeoff of an A-10.

The awards were presented at a ceremony that marked the end of a busy and highly-successful year in the 127th Wing, said Brig. Gen. John D. Slocum, 127th Wing commander.

"We had Airmen deployed all over the world this year, doing our nation's business, while we still maintained a full schedule of operations here at Selfridge," the General said. "Airmen of the 127th Wing, I salute you and your nation thanks you."

The 127th Wing deployed 649 Airmen to operations and training missions during fiscal year 2015, which ended Sept. 31, 2015. At one point, with some 500 Airmen deployed, the 127th Wing experienced the largest number of Airmen deployed from the Michigan Air National Guard at any one time since the Korean War ended in 1953.

Winners of the various award categories are forwarded to the state level for consideration. Winners at the state level are forwarded to the National Guard Bureau for national review.

About the 127th Wing
Comprised of approximately 1,700 personnel and flying both the A-10 Thunderbolt II and the KC-135 Stratotanker, the Michigan Air National Guard's 127th Wing supports Air Mobility Command and Air Combat Command operations by providing highly-skilled Airmen to missions domestically and overseas. The 127th Wing is the host unit at Selfridge Air National Guard Base, which marks its 98th year of continuous military air operations in 2015.