# Department of the Air Force Athlete of the Year

The Department of the Air Force Athlete of the Year is a yearly award for the best male and female athlete of the United States Air Force and United States Space Force. Many winners were part of the United States Air Force World Class Athlete Program. Until 2021 it was named United States Air Force Athlete of the Year.

## Men

| Year | Rank | Name | Sport(s) |
| 1989 | Major | Steven Pecinovsky | Race walking |
| 1990 | Sergeant | Todd Stehman | Indoor volleyball |
| 1991 | Captain | William Burton Roy | Shooting |
| 1992 |
| 1993 |
| 1994 | Captain | Michael Buonaugurio | Triathlon |
| 1995 | Staff sergeant | Ronald Simms | Boxing |
| 1996 | First Lieutenant | David DeGraaf | Handball |
| 1997 | Captain | Mark T. Cucuzella | Marathon |
| 1998 |
| 1999 | Second Lieutenant | Robert L. Dickie III | Cross country running Track and Field |
| 2000 | Captain | Stephen Goodman | Triathlon |
| 2001 | Sergeant | Steven B. Woods | Wrestling |
| 2002 | Staff sergeant | Anthony D. Patrick | Softball |
| 2003 | Captain | Kevin Eastler | Race walking |
| 2004 | Captain | James Parker | Hammer throwing |
| 2005 | Major | Roger Sherman | Shooting |
| 2006 | Master sergeant | Martin Bedford | Bowling |
| 2007 | Second Lieutenant | Ken Corigliano | Triathlon |
| 2008 | Technical sergeant | Michael Bergquist | Road cycling |
| 2009 | Captain | Ian Holt | Road cycling |
| 2010 | Captain | James Bales | Triathlon |
| 2011 | Captain | Weston Kelsey | Fencing |
| 2012 | Staff sergeant | Bradley T. Williams | Triathlon |
| 2013 | Captain | Ascenzo Bonitati II | Taekwondo |
| 2014 | Lieutenant colonel | Benjamin D. Boehm | Rowing |
| 2015 | Staff sergeant | John H. Allen | Baseball |
| 2016 | First Lieutenant | Cale Simmons | Pole vault |
| 2017 | Major | Ian Holt -2- | Road cycling |
| 2018 | Second Lieutenant | James Jax | Baseball |
| 2019 | Captain | Andrew Donlin | Handball Beach handball |
| 2020 | Airman first class | Michael Mannozzi | Racewalking |
| 2021 | Staff sergeant | Justin Southichack | Jujutsu |
| 2022 | Master sergeant | Kenneth Guinn | Wheelchair rugby Wheelchair basketball Sitting volleyball |
| 2023 | Captain | Andrew Donlin -2- | Handball Beach handball |
* ↑ Additionally William Burton Roy became 1991 Armed Forces Male Athlete of the Year

## Women

| Year | Rank | Name | Sport(s) |
| 1982 | Officer | Gail Liberty | Shooting |
| 1983 to 1990 |
| 1991 | Captain | Barbara Faulkenberry | Racquetball |
| 1992 |
| 1993 |
| 1994 | Captain | Teresa R. Lewis | Modern pentathalon |
| 1995 |
| 1996 | Senior airman | Deena Wigger | Shooting |
| 1997 | Staff sergeant | Lori M. Eppard | Marathon |
| 1998 |
| 1999 | Major | Kimberly J. Markland | Marathon Cross country running Track and Field |
| 2000 | First or Second Lieutenant | Nicole Mustilli | Fencing |
| 2001 | Second Lieutenant | Summer A. Deaton | Volleyball |
| 2002 | Second Lieutenant | Kristy L. Kuhlman | Soccer |
| 2003 | First Lieutenant | Laura McDonald | Rugby union Rugby sevens |
| 2004 |
| 2005 | Staff sergeant | Twyla Sears | Softball |
| 2006 | Captain | Linda Jeffery | Golf |
| 2007 |
| 2008 | Second Lieutenant | Dana Pounds | Javelin throwing |
| 2009 | Master sergeant | Karrie Warren | Softball |
| 2010 |
| 2011 | Airman first class | Emily Shertzer | Marathon |
| 2012 | Major | Elissa Ballas | Marathon |
| 2013 | Second Lieutenant | Samantha B. Morrison | Triathlon |
| 2014 | First Lieutenant | Sara E. Holman | Swimming |
| 2015 | First Lieutenant | Magin A. Day | Marathon Cross country running |
| 2016 | Captain | Paige Blackburn | Discus throwing Javelin throwing |
| 2017 | Captain | Abby L. Hall | Indoor volleyball |
| 2018 | Major | Amy Natalini | Marathon |
| 2019 | Major | Andrea Matesick | Equestrian |
| 2020 | Captain | Amber Hansen | Weightlifting |
| 2021 | Airman first class | Kelly Curtis | Skeleton |
| 2022 | Technical sergeant | Evon Pennington | Bodybuilding |
| 2023 | First Lieutenant | Rose Smith | Triathlon |