FALLS CHURCH, Va.  –  

The Air Force Surgeon General announced the recipients of the 2019 Air Force Medical Service individual and team awards. Airmen from the 59th Medical Wing at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland were among the 2019 Air Force Medical Service annual award winners announced Feb. 7, 2020.

The nominations submitted reflect the extraordinary quality of Air Force medics. The accomplishments of those recognized demonstrate expertise, leadership and commitment across the full breadth of the mission support we provide to the Air Force, Combatant Commanders and Defense Health Agency. 

Congratulations to all the award recipients who represent the many outstanding professionals of Air Force Medicine providing “Trusted Care Anywhere!”

59th MDW winners include:
USAF MSC Civilian of the Year
Michael D. Gaither
59 MDSS/SGSBT, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Air Education and Training Command 

USAF Biomedical Clinician Civilian of the Year
Jason C. Wheeler
359 MDOS/SGOY, JBSA-Randolph, AETC 

USAF Dental Civilian of the Year
Nancy A. Hansen
59 DSS/SGDSL, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, AETC 

USAF Public Health NCO of the Year
Staff Sgt. Seoany G. De Leon
559 AMDS/SGPM, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, AETC 

Other award winners include:

USAF Medical Service Civilian Enterprise Leadership Excellence Award
Melissa M. Curreri-Levesque
AFMRA CAG, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, AFMRA 

USAF Young Health Care Administrator of the Year
Capt. Jamion S. Lewis
36 MDSS/SGSM, Anderson Air Force Base, Guam, Pacific Air Forces 

USAF MSC Commitment to Service Award
Lt. Col. Nathan T. Kellett
60 MDSS/CC, Travis Air Force Base, California, Air Mobility Command 

USAF Biomedical Clinician of the Year - Company Grade Category
Capt. Cristina D. Benitez
18 MDOS/SGOW, Kadena Air Base, Japan, PACAF 

USAF Biomedical Clinician of the Year - Field Grade Category
Maj. Joyanne E. Tesei
USAFCENT/SGX, Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina, Air Combat Command 

USAF Biomedical Specialist of the Year - Company Grade Category
Capt. Jamie G. Olguin
460 HCOS/SGSC, Buckley Air Force Base, Colorado, Air Force Space Command 

USAF Biomedical Specialist of the Year - Field Grade Category
Maj. Mari M. Metzler
TRSS/HP, Joint Base Langley Eustis, VA, ACC 

USAF Biomedical Specialist Civilian of the Year
Trevor D. Scott
75 OMRS/SGPB, Hill Air Force Base, Utah, Air Force Material Command 

USAF Clinical Dentist of the Year
Maj. Christin M. Giacomino
11 MDS/SGD, Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, Washington, District of Columbia, Air Force District of Washington 

USAF Dental Educator of the Year
Lt. Col. Michael J. Silverman
375 DS/SGDD, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, AMC 

USAF Enlisted Health Services Management Airman of the Year
Senior Airman Christopher R. Cedarstaff
60 MDSS/SGSI, Travis Air Force Base, California, AMC 

USAF Enlisted Health Services Management NCO of the Year
Tech. Sgt. Mary Ann C. Pastor
633 MDSS/SGSD, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia, ACC 

USAF Medical Material Airman of the Year
Senior Airman Brian Izaguirre
60 MDSS/SGSLB, Travis Air Force Base, California, AMC 

USAF Medical Materiel NCO of the Year
Tech. Sgt Matthew A. Campbell
353 SOSS/OSZ, Kadena AB, Japan, AFSOC 

USAF Biomedical Equipment Repair Airman of the Year
Senior Airman Ryan S. Thomas
509 HCOS/SGGM, Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri, Air Force Global Strike Command 

USAF Biomedical Equipment Repair NCO of the Year
Tech. Sgt. Michael J. Muschong
366 HCOS/SGSM, Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, ACC 

USAF Base Bioenvironmental Engineering Airman of the Year
Senior Airman Alan L. Rosko
96 AMDS/SGPB, Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, AFMC 

USAF Base Bioenvironmental Engineering NCO of the Year
Tech. Sgt. Michael W. Gilbert
30 OMRS/SGOJ, Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, AFSPC 

USAF Mental Health Airman of the Year
Senior Airman Gwen Leslie B. Asayas
377 OMRS/SGOW, Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico,  AFGSC 

USAF Mental Health NCO of the Year
Tech. Sgt. James D. Sigler
325 OMRS/SGOH, Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida, ACC 

USAF Diet Therapy Airman of the Year
Senior Airman Zolbayar Erdenechimeg
96 MDSS/SGSN, Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, AFMC 

USAF Diet Therapy NCO of the Year
Staff Sgt. Nataliya Hampton
86 MDS/SGST, Ramstein Air Base (Landstuhl), Germany, U.S. Air Forces in Europe

USAF Public Health Airman of the Year
Staff Sgt. Rachel M. Jensen
673 AMDS/SGPM, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, Pacific Air Forces 

USAF Cardiopulmonary Laboratory Airman of the Year
Senior Airman Issac A. Roseborough, Jr
99 SGCS/SGOMC, Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, ACC 

USAF Cardiopulmonary Laboratory NCO of the Year
Tech. Sgt. Nathaniel T. Saujon
88 MDOS/SGOMC, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, AFMC 

USAF Physical Medicine Airman of the Year
Senior Airman Alejandro Castro
90 HCOS/SGOY, F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyoming, AFGSC 

USAF Physical Medicine NCO of the Year
Staff Sgt. Sashauna T. Allen
88 MDOS/SGOY, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, AFMC 

USAF Aerospace and Operational Physiology Airman of the Year
Senior Airman Alexis P. Nygaard
62 MDSS/SGPT, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, AMC 

USAF Aerospace and Operational Physiology NCO of the Year
Tech. Sgt. Kristen N. Peck
628 OMRS/SGPT, Joint Base Charleston, South Carolina, AMC 

USAF Aerospace Medicine Airman of the Year
Senior Airman Abbigail O. Palacios
52 AMDS/SGPF, Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, USAFE 

USAF Aerospace Medicine NCO of the Year
Tech. Sgt. Miranda L. Krill
374 MDOS/SGOE, Yokota Air Base, Japan, PACAF 

USAF Surgical Service Airman of the Year
Senior Airman Kaitlyn E. Staller
633 SGCS/SGCS, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia, ACC 

USAF Surgical Service NCO of the Year
Staff. Sgt Karan E. Rigby
374 SGCS/SGCUO, Yokota Air Base, Japan, PACAF 

USAF Pharmacy Technician Airman of the Year
Senior Airman Nicole M. Montgomery
2 MDSS/SGSD, Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, AFGSC 

USAF Pharmacy Technician NCO of the Year
Tech. Sgt. Stacie K. Hamilton
97 HCOS/SGSD, Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma, AETC 

USAF Diagnostic Imaging Airman of the Year
Staff Sgt. Amber B. Birch
96 SAGCS/SGCR, Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, AFMC 

USAF Diagnostic Imaging NCO of the Year
Staff Sgt. Nance F. Pea
35 SGC/SGCR, Misawa Air Base, Japan, PACAF 

USAF Laboratory Airman of the Year
Senior Airman Jade M. Cairns
60 MDTS/SGQC, Travis Air Force Base, California, AMC 

USAF Laboratory NCO of the Year
Tech. Sgt. Joshua T. Soper
354 MDSS/SGSAL, Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, PACAF 

USAF Ophthalmic Airman of the Year
Staff Sgt. Jordan N. Cutaia
325 OMRS/SGPE, Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida, ACC 

USAF Ophthalmic NCO of the Year
Tech. Sgt. Dwain S. Tolbert
21 OMRS/SGPE, Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado, AFSPC 

USAF Dental Airman of the Year
Senior Airman Brandi L. Parker
81 DS/SGD, Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi, AETC 

USAF Dental NCO of the Year
Staff Sgt. Kelly S. Almeida
81 DS/SGD, Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi, AETC 

USAF SNCO Operational Medicine Excellence Award
Master Sgt. Ashley L. Jackson
AFMRA/SG3C, Defense Health Headquarters, Virginia, Air Force Medical Readiness Agency 

USAF SNCO Organizational Management Excellence Award
Senior Master Sgt. Julie D. De Priest
21 HCOS/CCC, Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado, AFSPC 

USAF SNCO Clinical Support Excellence Award
Master Sgt. Tiffaney R. Hill
AFMRA/SGNP, Defense Health Headquarters, Virginia, AFMRA 

USAF Medical Service SNCO Leadership Award
Master Sgt. Stephan G. Iles
56 MDSS/SDSD, Luke Air Force Base, Arizona, AETC 

USAF Medical Service Civilian Performance Excellence Award
Jessica E. Ellis
673 MDSS/SGSD, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, PACAF 

USAF Medical Service Civilian Organizational Leadership Award
Erica C. Sansosti
52 MDSS/SGST, Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, USAFE 

USAF Physician of the Year - Company Grade Category
Capt. Caleb S. James
8 MDOS/SGOZ, Kunsan Air Base, Korea, PACAF 

USAF Physician of the Year - Field Grade Category
Maj. Stephanie M. Streit
99 MDG/SGCQ, Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, ACC 

USAF Chief of the Medical Staff of the Year
Lt. Col. Catherine H. McHugh
374 MDG, Yokota Air Base, Japan, PACAF 

USAF Physician Educator of the Year
Capt. Kathryn M. Burtson
88 MDG, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, AFMC 

USAF Clinical Excellence in Nursing Award – Company Grade Category
Capt. Megan A. George
27 SOHCOS/SGOB, Cannon Air Force Base, New Mexico, Air Force Special Operations Command 

USAF Clinical Excellence in Nursing Award – Field Grade Category
Maj. Kelly J. Origel
366 OMRS/SGOK, Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, ACC 

USAF Privileged Advanced Practice Nurse Award
Lt. Col. James K. Webb
720 OSS/SOST, Hurlburt Field Air Force Base, Florida, AFSOC 

USAF Civilian Nurse of the Year
Bertha B. Espinosa
21 MDS/SGSD, Schriever Air Force Base, Colorado, AFSPC 

USAF Excellence in Nursing Leadership Award
Lt. Col. Ruth A. Monsanto-Williams
21 MDG/SGN, Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado, AFSPC 

USAF Achievement in Nursing Force Development Award
Maj. Jeanette K. Sanders
99 MDG/SGNE, Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, ACC 

USAF Achievement in Clinical Research Award
Lt. Col. Cade M. Nyland
AFELM Med DOD, Defense Health Headquarters, Virginia 

USAF Personnel Reliability Assurance Program Monitor/Technician of the Year
Senior Airman Tatiana O. Davila
31 MDOS/SGOW, Aviano Air Base, Italy, USAFE

Team Awards:

USAF Medical Logistics Team of the Year
51 MDSS/SGSM, Osan Air Base, Korea, PACAF 

USAF Resource Management Team of the Year
86 MDSS/SGSR, Ramstein Air Base, Germany, USAFE 

USAF Medical Information Services Team of the Year
60 MDSS/SGSI, Travis Air Force Base, California, AMC 

USAF Health Plan Management Team of the Year
86 MDSS/SGST, Ramstein Air Base, Germany, USAFE 

USAF Medical Readiness Team of the Year
30 HCOS/Medical Readiness Flight, Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, AFSPC 

USAF Biomedical Sciences Corps Team of the Year
325 MDG/SGB Disaster Response & Operational Recovery Team, Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida, ACC 

USAF Small Dental Clinic of the Year
354 MDOS/SGOD, Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, PACAF 

USAF Medium Dental Clinic of the Year
49 OMRS/SGDD, Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico, AETC 

USAF Large Dental Clinic of the Year
374 DS/SGDD, Yokota Air Base, Japan, PACAF 

USAF Outstanding Personnel Reliability Assurance Program Team of the Year
377 OMRS/SEM, Kirkland Air Force Base, New Mexico, AFGSC 

USAF Medical Home Award
366 OMRS/SGOK, Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, ACC 

USAF Best Ambulatory Clinic Patient Safety Program
55 MDG, Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska, ACC 

USAF Best Inpatient Facility Patient Safety Program
81 MDG, Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi, AETC 

USAF Best AE Squadron Patient Safety Program
86 AES, Ramstein Air Base, Germany, USAFE 

USAF Surgeon General Award for Clinic of the Year
509 MDG, Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri, AFGSC

USAF Surgeon General Award for Hospital of the Year
99 MDG, Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, ACC