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The Pennsylvania Air National Guard (PAANG) has selected its annual Airmen of the Year for 2022.
This year’s statewide recipients are: Airman of the Year Staff Sgt. Akini B. Cyrus, 111th Attack Wing, Horsham; Noncommissioned Officer of the Year Tech. Sgt. Mike Mullen, 111th Attack Wing, Horsham; First Sergeant of the Year Master Sgt. Katrina M. Wetzel, 193rd Special Operations Wing, Middletown; and Senior Noncommissioned Officer of the Year Senior Master Sgt. Kristin J. Graby, 193rd Special Operations Wing, Middletown.
“Announcing Pennsylvania’s Airmen of the Year is always one of my proudest moments as commander,” said Brig. Gen. Michael Regan, PAANG commander. “This year’s awardees are the best of the best across our enlisted force and represent the quality of Airmen we are able recruit and retain across the commonwealth.”
Staff Sgt. Akini B. Cyrus is a sensor operator in the 111th Operations Support Squadron at Biddle Air National Guard Base. Cyrus, who was promoted to staff sergeant in December 2021, joined the military at the age of 35 after a career in child advocacy and afterschool programming. He now plays an active role in the 111th Attack Wing’s flying mission and operations, and serves as the president of the wing’s diversity and inclusion working group where he leads projects to build a more inclusive base community and boost the morale of his fellow airmen. Cyrus has participated in joint training exercises Jaded Nite, Northern Strike and Jaded Thunder – and has supported missions for Operations Freedom Sentinel, Inherent Resolve and Juniper Shield. He earned his bachelor’s degree in political science from Queens College, City University of New York.
Tech. Sgt. Mike Mullen is a sensor operator and instructor with the 111th Attack Wing, Biddle Air Guard Station. He enlisted in August 2003 and began his career as a member of the 96th Security Forces Squadron at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. He served four years on active duty including two overseas deployments in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. After completing his initial enlistment, Mullen returned to college and earned his associate degree in exercise science from Montgomery County Community College in 2012, and re-enlisted as a full-time member in the Air National Guard. Throughout his career, Mullen has earned several academic distinctions including: honor graduate, Air Force Basic Military Training; distinguished graduate, Basic Sensor Operator Course; and an academic achievement award and distinguished graduate, Air Force Weapons School.
Master Sgt. Katrina M. Wetzel serves as the first sergeant for the 193rd Special Operations Security Forces Squadron, 193d Special Operations Wing, in Middletown. She serves as the key advisor to the commander on the health, morale, discipline and well-being of the enlisted force. Wetzel enlisted into the Pennsylvania Air National Guard in May 2004 and completed Basic Training and Services Technical Training at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, before returning to the 201st RED HORSE Squadron in Annville. Wetzel served in several positions before becoming a full-time services instructor at the Air National Guard Schoolhouse in Annville – a position she held from September 2013 until September 2021. Wetzel has participated in several domestic operations and planning conferences including Pennsylvania’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic and four presidential inaugurations. She deployed in support of Operations Freedom Sentinel and Inherent Resolve. Wetzel earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education in 2009 and received a master of science in education for the deaf/hard of hearing in 2010 – both from Bloomsburg University.
Senior Master Sgt. Kristin J. Graby is the senior enlisted leader of the 203rd Weather Flight at Fort Indiantown Gap in Annville. Graby enlisted into the Pennsylvania Air National Guard in March 2002. In her current position she integrates atmospheric and space environmental intelligence into all levels of military decision making, supervises 15 airmen and provides domestic operation support to state and Army customers. In 2007, Graby deployed as a weather forecaster in support of the Iraq campaign, where she provided weather data and forecasts for numerous medical evacuation missions, patrols and senior leadership update briefs. Full time with the Weather Flight since 2011, Graby has supported and organized joint training operations with the Pennsylvania Army National Guard, New York Army National Guard, state active duty and the State Partnership Program with Lithuania. She is currently on a temporary assignment in the wing planning office where she works directly with leadership at both wing and state level to assign national and state missions to Airmen and was the key organizer of the wing’s support to Operation Allied Refuge. Graby earned her bachelor’s degree from Shippensburg University and her master’s degree from California University of Pennsylvania. She volunteers as a board member for a preschool in Lebanon and dedicates over forty hours a year to maintaining the building and grounds, helping with school events and is one of the main organizers of the school’s fundraising benefit auction – raising more than $11,000 last year.
MEDIA NOTE: Media outlets should contact public affairs personnel at each awardees’ respective wing to work stories: 111th Attack Wing at (215) 323-7177 or 193rd Special Operations Wing at (717) 948-2311.
| Date Taken: | 04.22.2022 |
| Date Posted: | 04.22.2022 14:15 |
| Story ID: | 419072 |
| Location: | FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, PENNSYLVANIA, US |
| Web Views: | 291 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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