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      Four Airmen and Guardians among BEYA winners, CSAF gives keynotePublished Feb. 13, 2021
                    
                    By Staff Sgt. Nicolas Z. Erwin
                    
                    
                    Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs
            **WASHINGTON (AFNS) --**Four Department of the Air Force service members were selected as recipients of the Military Service Award during the 2021 Black Engineer of the Year Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics conference in Washington, D.C., Feb. 12, 2021. The four individuals were recognized for their accomplishments and mentorship in the STEM career fields during the Stars and Stripes event.

The recipients were **Air Force Brig. Gen. Troy Dunn**, the director of military force management policy, deputy chief of staff for manpower, personnel and services, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Arlington, Virginia; **Space Force Brig. Gen. David Miller Jr.**, the senior military assistant to the Secretary of the Air Force, Arlington, Virginia;**Alphonso Thomas**, the director of engineering and technical management at the Air Force Sustainment Center, **Tinker Air Force Base**, Oklahoma; and Air Force Senior Master Sgt. Shanton Russell, the 22nd Civil Engineer Squadron deputy fire chief, **McConnell AFB**, Kansas.

**Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Charles Q. Brown, Jr.**, provided the keynote address for the ceremony and highlighted the importance of making a difference, even when tested through challenging times.

“I know I can’t fix the world’s problems, even as the Air Force chief of staff,” Brown said. “But, I will do what I can to make a difference, where I can. That’s why I keep serving; because just like those before me, there’s somebody behind us saying, ‘I want to be just like you,’ because they see the opportunity. I challenge each of us, including myself, to stand up, step up and make the change.”

Russell described how winning this award was the culmination of Airmen, family and mentors who chose to help him become a great Airman.

“I was encouraged to shoot for it by my squadron’s chief enlisted manager, who was aware of the things I have done and am currently working on,” Russell said. “We had a good discussion about it, and pressed on with the submission. After reading up on the conference and past recipients, I honestly didn’t think I would get this far. I was told that my package competed against 30 others and was selected by a panel of retired three and four-star generals. I was shocked, honored, and humbled all at the same time.”

He continued to explain when he was younger, he and his friends spent a great deal of time thinking they would have a shot at being famous entertainer rather than a chemist, engineer or something within the STEM fields.

“It’s not terrible to have those dreams, but there needs to be a serious effort to attract young people to STEM fields,” Russell said. “It’s absolutely vital that we continue to educate young people on STEM, and its importance in hopes they’ll decide to be the builders and developers of the future. I wholeheartedly believe our collective growth and livelihoods depend on it.”

The goal of the BEYA conference is to create connections between students, educators and STEM professionals while facilitating partnerships with individuals and their local STEM resources, according to Lt. Col. John Griffiths, the chief of total force diversity and inclusion assigned to the Office of Diversity & Inclusion, Office of the SAF, Arlington, Virginia.

The Stars and Stripes award criteria for the Air and Space Force recipients include having served with distinction supporting the DAF’s efforts in mentorship and diversity to the nation and to the Air Force. Another key criteria is being a personal advocate for advances in STEM and STEM education.

“Coordinating the planning of the BEYA conference and awards evening involved many different entities across the **Department of Defense**, corporate partners, and a group of retired flag officers and senior executives,” Griffiths explained. “Unlike the 15 previous iterations of this event, which concluded with a gala awards night, this years’ events were entirely virtual.”

The three-day conference also included a career fair for Air Force recruiting, multiple panels, corporate seminars and on the final day, the Stars and Stripes Youth Mentoring session and award ceremony.

The Youth Mentoring session saw 285 high school students and educators participate in inspirational conversation, guidance and mentorship from 75 DoD senior leaders.AFWN 



USAF 



AF 



Air Force 



SAF 



Secretary of the Air Force 



stem 



STEM fields 



2021 Black Engineer of the Year Award 



BEYA 



CSAF 



Military service award 



Stars and Stripes 



Department of Defense 



Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr. 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