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    Michigan Air National Guard announces Outstanding Airmen of the Year for 2019

    Michigan Air National Guard announces Outstanding Airmen of the Year for 2019

    Photo By Senior Master Sgt. Sonia Pawloski | The Michigan Air National Guard's 2019 Airmen of the Year: Staff Sgt. Jabett Glenn,...... read more read more

    LANSING, MICHIGAN, UNITED STATES

    01.25.2019

    Story by 1st Lt. Andrew Layton 

    110th Wing

    LANSING, Mich. – The Michigan Air National Guard has announced its Outstanding Airmen of the Year for 2019.

    Selected from approximately 2,500 citizen-Airmen that populate the state’s three ANG installations, recipients of the award represent the Michigan ANG’s “best of the best” in four distinct categories: Airman of the Year, Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year, Senior Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year, and First Sergeant of the Year.

    “With all of the successes that have occurred in the Michigan ANG over the past year, just being nominated for this award is an incredible achievement,” said Maj. Gen. Leonard Isabelle, Michigan ANG commander. “I would like to personally congratulate each Airman selected as one of our Outstanding Airmen of the Year for 2019.”

    Selections for the award are made through a rigorous, multi-tiered process that begins when an Airman is nominated by their squadron or group commander to compete at the base level. A board is then assembled to identify the best candidates to represent each installation in the state-wide competition. Throughout the process, each individual’s dedication and service over the previous calendar year are taken into consideration.

    Staff Sergeant Jabett Glenn, 127th Mission Support Group, Selfridge ANG Base, Mich., is the Michigan ANG’s 2019 Airman of the Year. A skilled administrative technician, Glenn revitalized her squadron’s performance evaluation process, resulting in an 84% completion increase during the first quarter of 2018. She was also praised by superiors for streamlining newcomer in-processing time and additionally aided in several other examples of process-improvement. She resides in Detroit.

    Tech. Sgt. Jonathan Smaltz, 127th Security Forces Squadron, Selfridge ANG Base, Mich, is the Michigan ANG’s 2019 Non-commissioned Officer of the Year, due to his performance as supervisor of standards and evaluation for the 127th Security Forces Squadron. In this role, he developed a new certification process for installation Security Forces personnel and was identified as an individual superior performer by the Air Mobility Command Inspector General during a high-profile wing exercise. He is also a motivated advocate for higher education, receiving an Associate’s Degree from the Community College of the Air Force and completing the Michigan Evidence Collection Technician certification. He resides in Roseville.

    Master Sgt. Melanie Pomerville, 217th Combat Operations Squadron, Battle Creek ANG Base, Mich., is the Michigan ANG’s 2019 Senior Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year. Pomerville coordinated the development of training plans for 13 Air Operations Center duty positions and created a training program that transitioned standards and evaluations to an electronic system that received approval by higher headquarters. She led data link capabilities in support of exercise Northern Strike, the DoD’s largest annual joint, reserve-component exercise and is a recognized subject matter expert in the Air National Guard’s community of command and control specialists. She resides in Battle Creek.

    Master Sergeant John Vanderkooy, 110th Medical Group, Battle Creek ANG Base, Mich., is the Michigan ANG’s 2019 First Sergeant of the Year. Vanderkooy exemplified the qualities necessary of a first sergeant by diligently resolving key personnel issues and tracking vital dependent care information while forward deployed as a part of Operation Inherent Resolve. He was instrumental in maintaining a culture of excellence that impacted more than 270 deployed personnel through organizing holiday events, professional development classes, and spiritual fitness groups within a challenging area of responsibility. He resides in Zeeland.

    “The 2019 Michigan ANG Outstanding Airmen of the Year are truly exemplary in their respective career fields and are a positive representation of the entire Michigan ANG,” said Chief Master Sgt. Trever Slater, Michigan ANG Command Chief. “Every Airmen should be proud of the example set by them.”

    Award packages for each of Michigan’s Airman of the Year selectees will next be reviewed at the regional level. If selected, they would then compete against Air National Guard peers nationwide.

    “Thanks to all of the leaders who took the time to recognize our top performers and submit packages for consideration,” said Isabelle. “Also, good luck to our winners as they move on to compete at the regional level.”

    NEWS INFO

    Date Taken: 01.25.2019
    Date Posted: 01.25.2019 14:10
    Story ID: 308283
    Location: LANSING, MICHIGAN, US
    Hometown: BATTLE CREEK, MICHIGAN, US
    Hometown: DETROIT, MICHIGAN, US
    Hometown: ROSEVILLE, MICHIGAN, US
    Hometown: ZEELAND, MICHIGAN, US

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