Skip to main content (Press Enter).
 News
    
        Photos

    Week in Photos

    Air Force TV

    Commentaries

    Features

    Art

    About Us
    
        Air Force Senior Leaders
    
        SECAF

    CSAF

    CMSAF

    Biographies

    Fact Sheets

    SECAF Reading List

    CSAF Leadership Library
    
        CSAF Leadership Library 2022

    CSAF Leadership Library 2021

    CSAF Reading List Pre-2020 Archive
    
        2018 CSAF Reading List

    2017 CSAF Reading List

    2016 CSAF Reading List

    CSAF Leadership Library 2023

    CMSAF Leadership Library

    50 Years of the CMSAF

    Adjunct Professors

    Air Force Strategic Documents

    Arctic Strategy

    Empowered Airmen

    State Licensure Portability

    Careers

    AF Federal Advisory Committees

    AF 75th Anniversary

    Policy Updates

    AF Content Management

    Contact Us

    AF Sites
    
        Site RegistrationU.S. Air Force LogoAir Force

        Policy UpdatesNewsroomReoptimizationBIOGRAPHIESAF Senior Leaders      AF announces 2017 BIG Meritorious Service Award recipientsPublished July 5, 2017
                    
                    By Staff Sgt. Alexx Pons
                    
                    
                    Air Force Personnel Center Public Affairs
            **JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas (AFNS) --**Air Force officials recently named the winners for the 2017 Blacks in Government Meritorious Service Award.
The award honors military members and Defense Department civilian employees who have supported military missions or overseas contingency operations, or whose attributes best epitomize the qualities and core values of their service branch or other DOD component.
The 2017 distinguished recipients were:
- Master Sgt. Shamonte S. Saunders, Operations and Plans superintendent, 5th Air Force, Yokota Air Base, Japan, Pacific Air Forces.
- Myra L. Evans-Manyweather, Support Agreement Manager Program analyst, 502nd Air Base Wing, Joint Base San Antonio-Ft. Sam Houston, Air Education and Training Command.
- Capt. Kruz B. Oliver, Space Based Infrared System Requirements lead, Headquarters, Air Force Space Command, Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado, Air Force Space Command.
Saunders promoted an all-inclusive working environment through transparent mentorship as he prepared personnel for growth and development based on individuals’ merits and needs. His actions improved unit productivity and led the command in fly-away security mission support. Additionally, his leadership was vital to his subordinates earning two command-level and two wing-level awards. Finally, Saunders fused Green Dot and sexual assault prevention strategies to protect the Air Force’s most important resource: its Airmen. This program enabled the wing and his unit to leverage in-house resources while affording personnel an opportunity to acquire new skills, highlighting Saunders’ commitment to investing the necessary time and resources in unit personnel to enable career broadening and advancement.
Evans-Manyweather’s superb leadership and dedication to service were crucial to the management of the 502nd Air Base Wing’s $38 million reimbursable intra-/inter-service support agreement program, terminating 47 of 69 expired and superseded agreements, consolidating 15 into five and improving currency rate by 40 percent. On- and off-duty, Evans-Manyweather lives out her personal mantra, "start where you are.” She became a published author in July 2016. In her book, “Start Where You Are: My Journey from Childhood Poverty to Passionate Entrepreneur,” she shares personal trials and triumphs in overcoming discrimination and eliminating barriers that hinder equal opportunities in what she refers to as “underserved communities.” Additionally, she volunteered more than 20 hours facilitating focus groups to gain actionable data from participants to help find the root cause of the tendency of former offenders to reoffend within a one- to three-year period after release.
Oliver promoted the tenets of civil rights by chairing Peterson AFB’s Black History Month Events. His commitment to honoring history’s African American leaders culminated in a 5K run, six hours of cultural education to 35 toddlers at two Child Development Centers and a ceremonial showcase of significant moments in American history. In these efforts, Oliver led 11 members from the base and local community, and solicited support from three civic organizations to honor the contributions of women and minorities. Oliver also advanced human rights by volunteering with The Food Bank of the Rockies and Project Commission on Urgent Relief and Equipment to deliver 130,000 meals to more than 500 hunger-relief programs, and more than 250,000 unused medical supplies to families and children in 130 different countries. Lastly, he promoted the development of Defense Department personnel by partnering with the local medical group and Worchester Polytechnic Institute to provide training to the directorate’s service members.
For more information about Air Force personnel programs, go to myPers. Individuals who do not have a myPers account can request one by following these instructions.leadership 



 



volunteer 



DOD 



meritorious service award 



mentorship 



civil rights 



recognition 



recipients 



African American leaders 



Blacks in Government Featured News
        Senior Leader Priorities
                SecAF, CSAF, CMSAF begin Indo-Pacific trip focused on ACE
                    
                    DAF leaders talk budget, reoptimizing the force
                    
                    DAF leaders speak at National Character and Leadership Symposium
                    
                    DAF members recognized during BEYA STEM awards
                    
                    DAF senior enlisted advisors discuss Airmen, Guardians in the fightInnovation
                F-16s arrive to be modified for autonomous testing
                    
                    AFWERX director discusses role of tech startups, quick innovation in Great Power Competition
                    
                    DAF delivers lethality at the speed of data during Project Convergence Capstone 4
                    
                    DAF welcomes industry partners to HQ development program
                    
                    DAF announces Spark Tank 2024 finalistsMAJCOM News
                Safety enterprise announces new mission, vision, goals in 2024 strategic plan
                    
                    Air Combat Command welcomes new commander
                    
                    USAFE-AFAFRICA commander discusses Integrated Air, Missile Defense during Munich Security Conference
                    
                    Flosi to AFMC family: Embrace change, make every day count
                    
                    AMC rises to increasing global tension
 Quick Links
AccessibilityContact UsEqual OpportunityFOIA | Privacy | Section 508Information QualityInspector GeneralJAG Court-Martial DocketLink DisclaimerNo FEAR ActOpen GovernmentOSI Tip LinePlain LanguageQuestionsResilienceRSSSite MapVeterans Crisis LineCareers
Join the Air ForceAir Force BenefitsAir Force CareersAir Force ReserveAir National GuardCivilian ServiceConnect
            Get Social with Us
            
            Official United States Air Force Website
    Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil