HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. – Air Force Materiel Command officials recently announced that four members of the 66th Air Base Group here have received command-level awards.
The Hanscom recipients will continue on to compete against their peers at Air Force level.
66th Comptroller Squadron
Senior Master Sgt. Alan Kitler received the Chief Master Sgt. Larry P. Gonzales Senior Enlisted Leader of the Year for 2022. The award recognizes the best financial management and comptroller senior enlisted leader.
“Senior Master Sgt. Kiter is the backbone of our squadron, and we are glad AFMC Financial Management got it right when they selected him as their award winner,” said Maj. Amber M. Gasparetto-Brüning, 66th Comptroller Squadron commander. “He leads by example, setting the standard high, and taking care of all of our CEOs [civilians, enlisted and officers].”
Specific accomplishments cited in the award nomination include leading the CPTS response during a power outage on base. Kitler assisted base officials with funding three Massachusetts National Guard electricians and the installation getting $3 million in funding in less than five hours during the beginning of the outage.
Master Sgt. Jeremi Isaacs received the Financial Management Senior Noncommissioned Officer of the Year award.
“We couldn’t be prouder of Master Sgt. Isaacs as he embodies the definition of Airman, Wingman, Leader,” said Gasparetto-Brüning. “He acts selflessly, taking care of the team and mission, expecting nothing in return.”
Among his accomplishments, Isaacs received a coin from the assistant secretary of the Air Force for Financial Management and comptroller during a visit in August for taking care of Airmen and led several professional development opportunities for enlisted Airmen.
“Congratulations to our CPTS rockstars for taking home two MAJCOM-level FM awards,” wrote Col. Taona Enriquez, 66 ABG commander, in an email to the workforce. “Senior Master Sgt. Kitler and Master Sgt. Isaacs, thank you for your leadership and expertise.”
66th Security Forces Squadron
Airman 1st Class Karen Patricia Mendoza received the Airman First Class Elizabeth N. Jacobson Award for Expeditionary Excellence. While deployed for one year to Southeast Asia, Mendoza assisted with securing personnel, aircraft and other critical assets.
“The award is presented to a first-term security forces member in recognition of outstanding accomplishments and warfighting contributions,” said Chief Master Sgt. Charles Desaulniers, 66 SFS senior enlisted leader. “Her outstanding efforts while deployed help keep the memory of Airman Jacobson alive.”
The award’s namesake was killed by an improvised explosive device while deployed to Iraq in September 2005. She was the first Security Forces Airman and the first female service member to die in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Mendoza permanently changed stations to Royal Air Force Lakenheath, United Kingdom, last month following her return from deployment.
In an email to the workforce, Enriquez congratulated Mendoza for “leading from the front in one of the most impressive Security Forces units I've seen in my career.”
66th Air Base Group Public Affairs
Todd Maki won the award for the Outstanding Communication in the Civilian, Category 1 for the third consecutive year.
The Public Affairs Awards for Communication Excellence recognize the career field’s top performers and programs, highlight the mission impact of Air Force PA professionals, and encourage benchmarking of the most effective and innovative communication practices.
Among his accomplishments, Maki successfully implemented an online photo scheduling site for studio portraits that had a positive impact for customers and PA staff alike. Additionally, he was competitively selected to attend an AF-wide storytelling workshop in Texas, earning “Best of Workshop” distinction for his photography.
“Thanks for making Team Hanscom proud,” wrote Enriquez in an email to the workforce.