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        Policy UpdatesNewsroomReoptimizationBIOGRAPHIESAF Senior Leaders      12OAYSenior Airman Dhruva S. Poluru, 2023 Outstanding Airmen of the Year representing Air National Guard, poses with Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force JoAnne S. Bass and Bernie Skoch, chairman of the board of the Air and Space Forces Association during the Outstanding Airmen of the Year reception at the Gaylord National Resort, National Harbor, Md., Sept. 11, 2023. The Airmen were selected based on their leadership, job performance and personal achievement. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Olivia Stecker)
                
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12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year: Becoming tomorrow’s DAF ambassadors todayPublished Sept. 14, 2023
                    
                    
                    Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs
            **NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. (AFNS) --**The Air Force’s 12 Outstanding Airmen for 2023 were recognized and honored during the Air and Space Forces Association’s Air, Space and Cyber Conference Sept. 9-13.
The 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year (alphabetically listed, by rank and command of assignment when selected) are:
o Senior Master Sgt. Justin S. Cruz, **Air Force Materiel Command** – Airman supporting **Space Force**
o Tech. Sgt. Jennel L. Edwards, **Air Force Global Strike Command**
o Senior Master Sgt. Sedrick F. Evans, **Pacific Air Forces**
o Tech. Sgt. Michelle A. Fernandez, **Air Mobility Command**
o Master Sgt. Michael A. Galindo, **Air Education and Training Command**
o Senior Airman Ryan G. Hospelhorn, **United States Air Forces in Europe - Air Forces Africa**
o Senior Airman Kostiantyn Khymchenko, **Air Combat Command**
o Tech. Sgt. Micaela R. Mahan, **Air Force Materiel Command**
o Tech. Sgt. Kimberly R. Mastrocola, **Air Force Special Operations Command**
o Staff Sgt. Dhruva S. Poluru, **Air National Guard**
o Tech. Sgt. Theodore M. Sebsibe, **Air Force District of Washington**
o Senior Airman Jacob T. Tawasha, **Air Force Reserve Command**
Selected for their exceptional leadership, job performance and personal achievement, the 12 Airmen will spend the next year, and the rest of their Air Force careers, being distinguished representatives for the department.12OAYTech. Sgt. Micaela Mahan, 2023 Outstanding Airman of the Year representing Air Force Material Command, flies a helicopter simulator during an immersion with the 1st Helicopter Squadron at Joint Base Andrews, Md., Sept. 9, 2023. The 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year were selected based on their leadership, job performance and personal achievement. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Olivia Stecker)
            
            
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    12OAYTech. Sgt. Michelle A. Fernandez, 2023 Outstanding Airmen of the Year representing Air Mobility Command, poses with her husband Jean Carlos Fernandez in front of the Honor Guard statues at the Air Force Memorial in Washington, DC., Sept. 10, 2023. The Outstanding Airmen of the Year went on a tour of Washington, D.C., before attending the Air and Space Forces Association’s Air, Space and Cyber Conference, Sept. 11-13, 2023. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Olivia Stecker)
            
            
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    12OAYThe 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year for 2023 pose with Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. CQ Brown, Jr., and Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force JoAnne S. Bass during a reception at the Jacob Smart Center at Joint Base Andrews, Md., Sept. 10, 2023. The Airmen were selected based on their leadership, job performance and personal achievement. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Olivia Stecker)
            
            
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“Don’t change who you are,” said **Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force JoAnne S. Bass**. “Who you are is what got you here. Looking forward, you are an ambassador to our Air Force. That comes with a lot of responsibility.”
These servant leaders embody Secretary of the Air Force **Frank Kendall**’s “One Team, One Fight.” Their character, leadership and experiences reflect the strength of the Air Force and will serve the 12 Airmen as they advocate for and work with Airmen across the force.12OAYThe 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year for 2023 pose in front of the Capital building in Washington, DC., Sept. 13, 2023. The Airmen were selected based on their leadership, job performance and personal achievement. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Olivia Stecker)
            
            
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Throughout their time at the conference, the honorees experienced Washington, D.C., with an immersion tour of the 1st Helicopter Squadron at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, and met DAF senior leaders, gaining insight into their key focus areas and intent.
During a sit-down discussion with the 12 Airmen, Bass conveyed her expectations and answered questions relating to their year-long journey.
“There is nothing that is on the minds of our Airmen and their families that we aren’t focused on,” Bass said. “We’ve got to work together to create irreversible momentum to get after these things while reoptimizing our Air Force.”12OAYChief Master Sgt. Melvina Smith, Command Chief Master Sergeant for Air Force Global Strike Command, poses for a selfie with Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. CQ Brown, Jr., Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force JoAnne Bass, and Tech. Sgt. Jennel Edwards, one of the 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year for 2023. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Olivia Stecker)
            
            
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From senior master sergeant to senior airman, each member demonstrated how to lead, inspire others, and accelerate change around them. Their time at the conference will play a key role in the team’s ability to attract, train, and maintain the highest caliber of Airmen and Guardians in the year ahead.
The 12 Outstanding Airmen’s first official role will take place at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado, where they will help mentor and guide future officers of the Air Force and Space Force.LR 



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