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McConnell honors 2016 Annual Award winners

By 22nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs, 22nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs / Published February 09, 2017

Ryan H. Lee, 22nd Security Forces Squadron, center, accepts the 2016 Civilian Category I of the Year award, Feb. 3, 2017, at McConnell Air Force Base, Kan. The annual awards ceremony recognized military and civilian members who excel in their areas of responsibilities, leadership qualities, community involvement, self-improvement and innovation from of January to December 2016. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Christopher Thornbury)
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Ryan H. Lee, 22nd Security Forces Squadron, center, accepts the 2016 Civilian Category I of the Year award, Feb. 3, 2017, at McConnell Air Force Base, Kan. The annual awards ceremony recognized military and civilian members who excel in their areas of responsibilities, leadership qualities, community involvement, self-improvement and innovation from of January to December 2016. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Christopher Thornbury)

Stephen J. Yavornitzki, 22nd Wing Staff Agencies, center, accepts the 2016 Civilian Category II of the Year award, Feb. 3, 2017, at McConnell Air Force Base, Kan. The annual awards ceremony recognized military and civilian members who excel in their areas of responsibilities, leadership qualities, community involvement, self-improvement and innovation from January to December 2016. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Christopher Thornbury)
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Stephen J. Yavornitzki, 22nd Wing Staff Agencies, center, accepts the 2016 Civilian Category II of the Year award, Feb. 3, 2017, at McConnell Air Force Base, Kan. The annual awards ceremony recognized military and civilian members who excel in their areas of responsibilities, leadership qualities, community involvement, self-improvement and innovation from January to December 2016. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Christopher Thornbury)

Nancy A. Adams, 22nd Force Support Squadron, center, accepts the 2016 Civilian Category III of the Year award, Feb. 3, 2017, at McConnell Air Force Base, Kan. The annual awards ceremony recognized military and civilian members who excel in their areas of responsibilities, leadership qualities, community involvement, self-improvement and innovation from January to December 2016. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Christopher Thornbury)
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Nancy A. Adams, 22nd Force Support Squadron, center, accepts the 2016 Civilian Category III of the Year award, Feb. 3, 2017, at McConnell Air Force Base, Kan. The annual awards ceremony recognized military and civilian members who excel in their areas of responsibilities, leadership qualities, community involvement, self-improvement and innovation from January to December 2016. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Christopher Thornbury)

Senior Airman Christopher P. Lippolis, 22nd Operations Support Squadron, center, accepts the 2016 Honor Guardsman of the Year, Airman award, Feb. 3, 2017, at McConnell Air Force Base, Kan. The annual awards ceremony recognized military and civilian members who excel in their areas of responsibilities, leadership qualities, community involvement, self-improvement and innovation during the period of January to December 2016. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Christopher Thornbury)
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Senior Airman Christopher P. Lippolis, 22nd Operations Support Squadron, center, accepts the 2016 Honor Guardsman of the Year, Airman award, Feb. 3, 2017, at McConnell Air Force Base, Kan. The annual awards ceremony recognized military and civilian members who excel in their areas of responsibilities, leadership qualities, community involvement, self-improvement and innovation during the period of January to December 2016. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Christopher Thornbury)

Staff Sgt. Eric Keen, 22nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, center, accepts the 2016 Honor Guardsman of the Year, NCO award, Feb. 3, 2017, at McConnell Air Force Base, Kan. The annual awards ceremony recognized military and civilian members who excel in their areas of responsibilities, leadership qualities, community involvement, self-improvement and innovation during the period of January to December 2016. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Christopher Thornbury)
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Staff Sgt. Eric Keen, 22nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, center, accepts the 2016 Honor Guardsman of the Year, NCO award, Feb. 3, 2017, at McConnell Air Force Base, Kan. The annual awards ceremony recognized military and civilian members who excel in their areas of responsibilities, leadership qualities, community involvement, self-improvement and innovation during the period of January to December 2016. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Christopher Thornbury)

Tech. Sgt. Kathrine M. Johns, 22nd Security Forces Squadron, center, accepts the 2016 Volunteer of the Year, Feb. 3, 2017, at McConnell Air Force Base, Kan. The annual awards ceremony recognized military and civilian members who excel in their areas of responsibilities, leadership qualities, community involvement, self-improvement and innovation from January to December 2016. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Christopher Thornbury)
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Tech. Sgt. Kathrine M. Johns, 22nd Security Forces Squadron, center, accepts the 2016 Volunteer of the Year, Feb. 3, 2017, at McConnell Air Force Base, Kan. The annual awards ceremony recognized military and civilian members who excel in their areas of responsibilities, leadership qualities, community involvement, self-improvement and innovation from January to December 2016. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Christopher Thornbury)

Staff Sgt. Michael D. Ruff, 22nd Security Forces Squadron, center, accepts the 2016 Innovator of the Year award, Feb. 3, 2017, at McConnell Air Force Base, Kan. The annual awards ceremony recognized military and civilian members who excel in their areas of responsibilities, leadership qualities, community involvement, self-improvement and innovation during the period of January to December 2016. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Christopher Thornbury)
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Staff Sgt. Michael D. Ruff, 22nd Security Forces Squadron, center, accepts the 2016 Innovator of the Year award, Feb. 3, 2017, at McConnell Air Force Base, Kan. The annual awards ceremony recognized military and civilian members who excel in their areas of responsibilities, leadership qualities, community involvement, self-improvement and innovation during the period of January to December 2016. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Christopher Thornbury)

Wing Plans and Programs and Command Post, 22nd Wing Staff Agencies, accepts the 2016 Team of the Year award, Feb. 3, 2017, at McConnell Air Force Base, Kan. The annual awards ceremony recognized military and civilian members who excel in their areas of responsibilities, leadership qualities, community involvement, self-improvement and innovation from January to December 2016. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Christopher Thornbury)
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Wing Plans and Programs and Command Post, 22nd Wing Staff Agencies, accepts the 2016 Team of the Year award, Feb. 3, 2017, at McConnell Air Force Base, Kan. The annual awards ceremony recognized military and civilian members who excel in their areas of responsibilities, leadership qualities, community involvement, self-improvement and innovation from January to December 2016. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Christopher Thornbury)

Lt. Col. Aaron Walenga, 22nd Operations Squadron commander, center, accepts the 2016 Field Grade Officer of the Year award on behalf of Maj. Jared R. Thomas, Feb. 3, 2017, at McConnell Air Force Base, Kan. The annual awards ceremony recognized military and civilian members who excel in their areas of responsibilities, leadership qualities, community involvement, self-improvement and innovation from January to December 2016. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Christopher Thornbury)
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Lt. Col. Aaron Walenga, 22nd Operations Squadron commander, center, accepts the 2016 Field Grade Officer of the Year award on behalf of Maj. Jared R. Thomas, Feb. 3, 2017, at McConnell Air Force Base, Kan. The annual awards ceremony recognized military and civilian members who excel in their areas of responsibilities, leadership qualities, community involvement, self-improvement and innovation from January to December 2016. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Christopher Thornbury)

Capt. Bradlee N. Seehawer, center, accepts the 2016 Company Grade Officer of the Year award, Feb. 3, 2017, at McConnell Air Force Base, Kan. The annual awards ceremony recognized military and civilian members who excel in their areas of responsibilities, leadership qualities, community involvement, self-improvement and innovation from January to December 2016. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Christopher Thornbury)
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Capt. Bradlee N. Seehawer, center, accepts the 2016 Company Grade Officer of the Year award, Feb. 3, 2017, at McConnell Air Force Base, Kan. The annual awards ceremony recognized military and civilian members who excel in their areas of responsibilities, leadership qualities, community involvement, self-improvement and innovation from January to December 2016. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Christopher Thornbury)

Senior Master Sgt. Gregory D. Bishop, 22nd Security Forces Squadron, center, accepts the 2016 Senior Noncommissioned Officer of the Year award, Feb. 3, 2017, at McConnell Air Force Base, Kan. The annual awards ceremony recognized military and civilian members who excel in their areas of responsibilities, leadership qualities, community involvement, self-improvement and innovation from January to December 2016. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Christopher Thornbury)
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Senior Master Sgt. Gregory D. Bishop, 22nd Security Forces Squadron, center, accepts the 2016 Senior Noncommissioned Officer of the Year award, Feb. 3, 2017, at McConnell Air Force Base, Kan. The annual awards ceremony recognized military and civilian members who excel in their areas of responsibilities, leadership qualities, community involvement, self-improvement and innovation from January to December 2016. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Christopher Thornbury)

Col. David Lenderman, 22nd Operations Group commander, center, accepts the 2016 First Sergeant of the Year award on behalf of Master Sgt. Jonathan H. Bailey, 64th Air Refueling Squadron, Feb. 3, 2017, at McConnell Air Force Base, Kan. The annual awards ceremony recognized military and civilian members who excel in their areas of responsibilities, leadership qualities, community involvement, self-improvement and innovation from January to December 2016. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Christopher Thornbury)
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Col. David Lenderman, 22nd Operations Group commander, center, accepts the 2016 First Sergeant of the Year award on behalf of Master Sgt. Jonathan H. Bailey, 64th Air Refueling Squadron, Feb. 3, 2017, at McConnell Air Force Base, Kan. The annual awards ceremony recognized military and civilian members who excel in their areas of responsibilities, leadership qualities, community involvement, self-improvement and innovation from January to December 2016. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Christopher Thornbury)

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MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. --

McConnell leadership announced the best of the best Airman of 2016 during an annual awards banquet held at the Robert J. Dole Community Center at McConnell Air Force Base, Kansas, Feb. 3.

 

The annual awards ceremony recognized military and civilian members who excelled in their areas of responsibilities, leadership qualities, community involvement, self-improvement and innovation from January to December 2016.

 

Col. Albert Miller, 22nd Air Refueling Wing commander, presented the awards to the winners along with Chief Master Sgt. Shawn Hughes, 22nd ARW command chief and Steve Dickie, Wichita State University character coach and guest speaker for the event.

 

Here are the winners of McConnell’s 2016 Annual Awards and their categories:  

  • Airman of the Year – Senior Airman DeVaughn T. Granger, 344th Air Refueling Squadron

 

  • Noncommissioned Officer of the Year – Tech. Sgt. James C. Klusener, 22nd Operations Support Squadron

 

  • Senior Noncommissioned Officer of the Year – Senior Master Sgt. Gregory D. Bishop, 22nd Security Forces Squadron

 

  • Company Grade Officer of the Year – Capt. Bradlee N. Seehawer, 22nd Wing Staff Agencies

 

  • Field Grade Officer of the Year – Maj. Jared R. Thomas, 22nd OSS

 

  • Civilian Category I of the Year – Mr. Ryan H. Lee, 22nd SFS

 

  • Civilian Category II of the Year – Mr. Stephen J. Yavornitzki, 22nd WSA

 

  • Civilian Category III of the Year – Mrs. Nancy A. Adams, 22nd Force Support Squadron

 

  • First Sergeant of the Year – Master Sgt. Jonathan H. Bailey, 64th ARS

 

  • Honor Guardsman of the Year, Airman – Senior Airman Christopher P. Lippolis, 22nd OSS

 

  • Honor Guardsman of the Year, NCO – SSgt Eric M. Keen, 22nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron

 

  • Volunteer of the Year – Tech. Sgt. Kathrine M. Johns, 22nd SFS

 

  • Team of the Year – Wing Plans and Programs and Command Post, 22nd WSA

 

  • Innovator of the Year – Staff Sgt. Michael D. Ruff, 22nd SFS

 

In his closing remarks, Miller acknowledged those who put together the banquet, congratulated the winners and also thanked their leadership for recognizing their Airmen.  

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