Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center recognizes annual award winners

By Leah Bryant, AFNWC Public Affairs, Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center / Published February 10, 2020

The Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center commander, Maj. Gen. Shaun Morris, congratulates the center’s annual award winners at a ceremony on Jan. 23, 2020, at the Mountain View Club, Kirtland AFB, New Mexico. Pictured left to right: William Ramos; Paola Banuelos; Gabriella Gutierrez; 1st Lt. Andrew Miller; 2nd Lt. MacKenzie Lerum; Jonathan Holguin; Master Sgt. Latoya Saxton; Technical Sgt. Robert Jovin; Capt. Blake Branton; Katherine Schneider; Maj. Christopher Ifft; Clarence Perry; Morris; and Michelle Rivera. See story for complete list of winners. (Air Force photo by Senior Airman Alexandria Crawford)
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The Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center commander, Maj. Gen. Shaun Morris, congratulates the center’s annual award winners at a ceremony on Jan. 23, 2020, at the Mountain View Club, Kirtland AFB, New Mexico. Pictured left to right: William Ramos; Paola Banuelos; Gabriella Gutierrez; 1st Lt. Andrew Miller; 2nd Lt. MacKenzie Lerum; Jonathan Holguin; Master Sgt. Latoya Saxton; Technical Sgt. Robert Jovin; Capt. Blake Branton; Katherine Schneider; Maj. Christopher Ifft; Clarence Perry; Morris; and Michelle Rivera. See story for complete list of winners. (Air Force photo by Senior Airman Alexandria Crawford)

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KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. -- The Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center announced its annual award winners at a ceremony here on Jan. 23 at the Mountain View Club.
 
“Please join me in congratulating the 2019 AFNWC Annual Award winners for their outstanding accomplishments and contributions to our mission,” said Maj. Gen. Shaun Morris, AFNWC commander. “And thanks to all their teammates whose hard work each day ensures our nation’s most powerful weapons are never doubted and always feared!”
 
The center’s winners will compete at the next level for Air Force Materiel Command’s annual awards.
 
AFNWC 2019 Winners
 
  • Non-commissioned Officer (NCO) of the Year – Technical Sgt. Robert Jovin, Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) Systems Directorate, Hill AFB, Utah
  • Senior NCO of the Year – Master Sgt. Latoya Saxton, Director of Staff Directorate, Kirtland AFB, New Mexico
  • Company Grade Officer of the Year – Capt. Blake Branton, ICBM Systems Directorate, Hill AFB
  • Field Grade Officer of the Year – Maj. Christopher Ifft, Air Delivered Capabilities Directorate, Eglin AFB, Florida
  • Category I Civilian of the Year – Clarence Perry, ICBM Systems Directorate, Hill AFB
  • Category II Civilian of the Year – Katherine Schneider, Nuclear Technology and Integration Directorate, Kirtland AFB
  • Category III Civilian of the Year – Michelle Rivera, Air Delivered Capabilities Directorate, Eglin AFB
  • Category IV Civilian of the Year – James Baird, Air Delivered Capabilities Directorate, Eglin AFB
  • Team of the Year – Aircraft Certification Team, Nuclear Technology and Integration Directorate, Kirtland AFB (Dale Frost, team lead; Jeffrey Anderson; Paola Banuelos; George D'Amore; Gabriella Gutierrez; Jonathan Holguin; 1st Lt. Andrew Miller; 2nd Lt. Mackenzie Lerum; 2nd Lt Brennan Megeff; and Kate Nguyen)
  • Outstanding Service Awards – Edward Rua, Air Delivered Capabilities Directorate, Tinker AFB, Oklahoma; David Harder, Financial Management Directorate, Kirtland AFB; Gil Garcia, Nuclear Technology and Integration Directorate, Kirtland AFB; Kayla Marshall, Contracting Directorate, Hill AFB
 
The center is responsible for synchronizing all aspects of nuclear materiel management on behalf of Air Force Materiel Command in direct support of Air Force Global Strike Command. Headquartered at Kirtland AFB, the center has about 1,400 personnel assigned to 18 locations worldwide.