310th Space Wing Annual Awards Ceremony Published April 12, 2009 By Tech. Sgt. Scott D. Bailey 310th Space Wing COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- Members of the Air Force Reserve's 310th Space Wing braved the wind and snow to attend the unit's first annual 2008 awards banquet at the Colorado Springs Marriott ballroom to recognize and honor its outstanding units and receive individual awards April 4. As the evening's master of ceremonies, 310th SW commander Col. Karen A. Rizzuti spoke of the direction for the wing, and of her great pride she had for the annual award nominees. "The numerous award nominees are a testament to the great responsibilities and achievements which the 310th Space Wing has accomplished, and continues to excel as they overcome challenges in newly emerging missions," she said. "I have never seen any other organization more polished and professional; our Airmen wear their uniforms with pride and conduct themselves at a level that others would be envious to emulate," said 310th SW Command Chief Master Sgt. Rocky V. Hart. "One of Col. Rizzuti's priorities is to have fun and I can honestly say that I have had tons of fun being able to stand side by side with a family of professionals, and it is a truly humbling feeling!" During dinner, keynote speaker Mr. Tim Hobbs spoke of the matrix to solution finding processes to overcome obstacles in the workplace and in life in general. He motivated wing members to find the best solution using problem solving as a team to better prepare the unit. Specifically he addressed the unit's challenge of preparing everyone for unforeseen circumstances and challenges which face Air Force Space Command's and Air Force Reserve Command's premier space wing. With teamwork, proper motivation and the necessary use of the chain-of-command, no problem will be too big to tackle. Mr. Hobbs is an in-demand motivational speaker, a 2006 President's Volunteer Service Award winner, and also the chief executive officer of Hobbs Technical Consulting. The 2009 Annual Award Nominees and winners are: Airman of the Year 310th Operations Group- Senior Airman Daniel Kendall (Winner) 310th Mission Support Group- Senior Airman Aaron Hunt 310th Aerospace Medical Dental Flight- Senior Airman Alexandria Pisano Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year 310th Operations Group- Tech. Sgt. James Crosbie (Winner) 310th Mission Support Group- Staff Sgt. Courtney Tovrea Reserve National Security Space Institute- Tech. Sgt. Robert Reiter 310th Aerospace Medical Dental Flight- Staff Sgt. Daron Holmes Senior Non-commissioned Officer of the Year Reserve National Security Space Institute- Master Sgt. Christy Gravitt (Winner) 310th Mission Support Group- Master Sgt. David Risnear 310th Aerospace Medical Dental Flight- Senior Master Sgt. Peter Price Company Grade Officer of the Year 310th Operations Group- Capt. Derek Norton (Winner) Reserve National Security Space Institute- Capt. Douglas Roning 310th Aerospace Medical Dental Flight- Capt. Elizabeth Davis Dee Jai Rogers Award Reserve National Security Space Institute- Master Sgt. Christy Gravitt (Winner) 310th Operations Group- Master Sgt. Melanie Sekerak 310th Mission Support Group- Senior Airman Benjamin Hathaway 310 SW Unit of the Year 310th Aerospace Medical Dental Flight (Winner) Reserve National Security Space Institute 310th Communications Flight Honored guests of the evening included the 91-year-old Doolittle Raider Col. Bill Bower (retired), former commander of the 380th Bomb Squadron, and Corporal Marion Hall (US-AAF ret), a founding member of the 380th Bomb Group. Both men are deeply rooted with the lineage of the 310th Space Wing History, along with American Military History, as they have both helped to alter world events. Distinguished visitors included Col. Thomas Manley and Chief Master Sgt. Patty Brown from Headquarters Air Force Reserve Command; Mr. Fred Fletemeyer, Chairman of the National and Colorado Committees for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve; Chief Master Sgt. Roy Hale from 10th Air Force A6 Directorate; Director of Air Force Space Command Reserve Forces Col. Kyle Charles; along with all commanders, operations officers, first sergeants, and superintendents of all units under the 310th Space Wing.