Left, Tech. Sgt. Suzan Sangster, 324th IS, AIA NCO of the Year; Master Sgt. Carlos Torres, AFIWC, Senior NCO IMA of the Year; Senior Airman Keith Andrews, AIA ISG, AIA Airman of the Year; Tech. Sgt. Barry Hackett, Jr., IMA at the 694th IG, NCO IMA of the Year; Master Sgt. John Gill, 301st IS, AIA Senior Noncommissioned Officer of the Year; and Senior Master Sgt. Richard Cargill, HQ AFTAC, AIA's First Sergeant of the Year.

"When I won this award, my first thoughts went back to the team that allowed these good things to happen. I couldn't have done it without them. They are very, very special people and I can not emphasize enough how incredible they are," said Tech. Sgt. Suzan Sangster, a cryptologic linguist assigned to the 324th Intelligence Squadron at Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii, and the AIA Noncommissioned Officer of the Year.

Sangster volunteered as a Tactical Signals Intelligence Interface Intelligence Operator at Riyadh Air Base, Saudi Arabi from December 1994 to March 1995.

Senior Airman Keith Andrews, a data systems technician assigned to Air Intelligence Agency's Intelligence Systems Group at Kelly Air Force Base and the AIA Airman of the Year recipient, echoed those sentiments. "My award was a team effort. It's really a team award and shows what our shop can do. I just happen to be the spokesman for the group," Andrews said.

Originally a fabrication and parachute technician, Andrews began retraining in September 1995 into Electronic Computer and Switching Systems at Keesler Air Force Base, Miss. He graduated in the top one percent of his class, garnishing the coveted Honor Graduate award. He received an Associate degree in Fabrication and Parachute Technologies from the Community College of the Air Force.

"This award is really due to all the people who have given me the opportunity to do so many things," said 1st Lt Juan Crawford, chief of production operations and plans integration at Headquarters AIA, who received the 1996 AIA Company Grade Officer of the Year award at earlier ceremonies. "The Air Force is my life. I've been in the Air Force for 15 years, so it's all I've known. I really look at the Air Force as a family and want to do everything I can to make us better," Crawford said. Before going to Officer Training School in 1993, Crawford was a technical sergeant in the Air Force, assigned to Headquarters Air Force Military Personnel Command as a personnel systems manager. He works directly with the Director of Information Operations and Air Staff on all matters concerning Air Force intelligence support to Theater Missile Defense policy.

1st Lt. Juan Crawford, chief of production operations and plans integration at AIA, is the 1996 AIA Company Grade Officer of the Year.

A similar, related theme which ran through the group was taking care of people and empowering workers.

"You come into an organization which may or may not have great morale and teamwork. If they don't, I try to get them there. I try to get others to place emphasis on people and human resources," said Senior Master Sgt. Richard Cargill, first sergeant of the Headquarters Section at Air Force Technical Applications Center, Patrick Air Force Base, Fla. and AIA's First Sergeant of the Year.

Cargill graduated from the U.S. Air Force First Sergeant's Academy at Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., in 1991. In September 1992, he graduated from the Community College of the Air Force with three Associates in Applied Science degrees: Logistics, Instructor of Technology and Military Sciences and Personnel Administration. In July 1996, Cargill was selected for his present assignment.

The award winners said they were motivated by the many challenges presented by the Air Force. "I get a deep sense of accomplishment from being in the Air Force. I enjoy the military's professionalism, not doing things just for the money," said Master Sgt. John Gill, chief of mission management for the Misawa Cryptologic Operations Center and the 301st Intelligence Squadron at Misawa Air Base, Japan, who was awarded the AIA Senior Noncommissioned Officer of the Year.

Gill assumed his current duties in June 1996. He has also deployed to Saudi Arabia during Operations Southern Watch as the Superintendent of Mission Management for the 6975th Intelligence Squadron (Provisional). Gill has an Associate Degree in Intelligence Collection from the Community College of the Air Force.

Both Individual Mobilization Augumentees cited the challenges of the job as their incentive for being in the Air Force. "As an IMA, I'm never in a rut. There are so many challenges. There's something new every year," said Master Sgt. Carlos Torres, superintendent of Reserve force management and deployments for the Air Force Information Warfare Center and Senior NCO IMA of the Year.

Torres deployed for Operation Desert Shield in 1990 and became a founding member of the 6975th Electronic Security Squadron at Riyadh, Saudi Arabi. He began his second career in the Air Force as an IMA reserve in 1991.

"Being an IMA gives me an ability to serve and be part of something that has an impact," said Tech. Sgt. Barry Hackett Jr., an IMA assigned to the 694th Intelligence Group at Fort George Meade, Md., NCO IMA of the Year.

Hackett was an integral part of analysis efforts at Fort Meade during several international crises involving U.S. military forces during the early and mid 1980's. He was subsequently assigned to the National Signals Intelligence Operations Center, serving two years as a regional desk officer, followed by a tour as a senior reporter.

Return to June 97