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      Senior Airman Jamonica Smith, 87th Security Forces Squadron Phoenix Raven Team member, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, poses for a photo with Gen. Jacqueline D. Van Ovost, commander of Air Mobility Command, and Chief Master Sergeant Brian P. Kruzelnick, command chief of Air Mobility Command, during the Air Force Association Air, Space and Cyber Conference at National Harbor, Md., Sept. 20, 2021. Smith was recognized as one of the 2021 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year based on superior leadership, job performance and personal achievement. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Nicolas Z. Erwin)Senior Airman Jamonica Smith, 87th Security Forces Squadron Phoenix Raven Team member, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, poses for a photo with Gen. Jacqueline D. Van Ovost, commander of Air Mobility Command, and Chief Master Sergeant Brian P. Kruzelnick, command chief of Air Mobility Command, during the Air Force Association Air, Space and Cyber Conference at National Harbor, Md., Sept. 20, 2021. Smith was recognized as one of the 2021 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year based on superior leadership, job performance and personal achievement. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Nicolas Z. Erwin)
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res
        


        Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force JoAnne S. Bass congratulates Staff Sgt. Valerie Graw, an 88th Communications Squadron cyber operations controller, during a social hour hosted for the 2021 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year at Joint Base Andrews, Md., Sept. 19, 2021. Graw was recognized as one of the 2021 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year based on superior leadership, job performance and personal achievement. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Nicolas Z. Erwin)Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force JoAnne S. Bass congratulates Staff Sgt. Valerie Graw, an 88th Communications Squadron cyber operations controller, during a social hour hosted for the 2021 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year at Joint Base Andrews, Md., Sept. 19, 2021. Graw was recognized as one of the 2021 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year based on superior leadership, job performance and personal achievement. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Nicolas Z. Erwin)
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res
        


        Senior Master Sgt. Christopher Ricks, Pacific Air Forces Security Forces Division current operations superintendent, and Staff Sgt. Alex Sandmann, 5th Security Forces Squadron noncommissioned officer in charge of electronic security systems, Minot Air Force Base, N.D.,  fly in a UH-1N Huey during a tour of the 1st Helicopter Squadron at Joint Base Andrews, Md., Sept. 18, 2021.  The 2021 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year honorees were given the opportunity to tour the helicopter squadron, and received an aerial tour of the national capital region. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Nicolas Z. Erwin)Senior Master Sgt. Christopher Ricks, Pacific Air Forces Security Forces Division current operations superintendent, and Staff Sgt. Alex Sandmann, 5th Security Forces Squadron noncommissioned officer in charge of electronic security systems, Minot Air Force Base, N.D.,  fly in a UH-1N Huey during a tour of the 1st Helicopter Squadron at Joint Base Andrews, Md., Sept. 18, 2021.  The 2021 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year honorees were given the opportunity to tour the helicopter squadron, and received an aerial tour of the national capital region. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Nicolas Z. Erwin)
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res

12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year recognized at AFAPublished Sept. 22, 2021
                    
                    By Staff Sgt. Nicolas Z. Erwin
                    
                    
                    Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs
            **NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. (AFNS) --**The 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year for 2021 were recognized over the course of five days during the annual Air Force Association Air, Space and Cyber conference held at the National Harbor, Sept. 18-22.
Selection was based upon superior leadership, job performance and personal achievements. Each Airman embodied the spirit of Secretary of the Air Force **Frank Kendall**’s message, “One Team, One Fight.”
The 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year for 2021 (listed alphabetically, by command of assignment when selected):
• Senior Master Sgt. Marcus D. Banks, **Pacific Air Forces**
• Tech. Sgt. Christopher M. Bennett, **Air Education and Training Command**
• Tech. Sgt. Justin D. Bennett, **U.S. Air Forces Europe and Air Forces Africa**
• Tech. Sgt. Kelli A. Floyd, **Air Combat Command**
• Staff Sgt. Valerie M. Graw, **Air Force Materiel Command**
• Staff Sgt. Colleen F. Mitchell, **Air Force District of Washington**
• Senior Airman Giovanni Pacheco, Airman Support United States **Space Force**
• Staff Sgt. Kristy L. Riley, **Air Force Reserve Command**
• Staff Sgt. Alex M. Sandmann, **Air Force Global Strike Command**
• Senior Master Sgt. Mark R. Schneider II, **Air National Guard**
• Senior Airman Jamonica M. Smith, **Air Mobility Command**
• Master Sgt. Hannah E. Walters, **Air Force Special Operations Command**
“You represent more than just yourself now,” said **Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force JoAnne S. Bass**. “You are ambassadors for our Airmen, and you are in a position to directly help shape the Air Force of 2030.”
Bass continued to highlight the importance of each honorees’ impact when it comes to influencing and accelerating change in their spheres of influence. As ambassadors of the Air Force, each of the twelve Airmen represent the epitome of what Airmen should strive to become. Most importantly, she urged the Airmen to remember where they came from.
“It still hasn’t completely sunk in,” said Staff Sgt. Valerie M. Graw, an 88th Communications Squadron cyber operations controller at **Wright-Patterson Air Force Base**, Ohio. “Here we are (at the Air Force Association convention), meeting generals and command chiefs as the 12 Outstanding Airmen. I’m completely humbled by this experience and the fact that Chief Bass and other Air Force senior leaders trust me to represent our force. I can’t put it into words, but I am grateful.”
Throughout the span of the conference, the Airmen toured Washington, D.C., by land, during a bus tour across Northern Virginia and Washington, D.C., and by air, during an immersion tour of the 1st Helicopter Squadron at **Joint Base Andrews**, Maryland. The group also met Department of Defense, U.S. Air Force and U.S. Space Force senior leaders. Their stay culminated with a celebration for all the achievements of outstanding Airmen.
Even though the Airmen are subject matter experts in their respective career fields, some had never had the opportunity to see and experience the history of the nation’s capital. Tour locations included the White House, the Air Force Memorial and the Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia. The opportunity to tour the national capital region also gave some Airmen the ability to connect with each other based on heritage and goals.
The convention also offered the Airmen a greater insight into different Department of the Air Force senior leaders’ areas of focus, intent and how it all integrates to further attract, train and maintain the highest caliber of Airmen and Guardians.
The 12 Outstanding Airmen’s first official job will take place at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado, to help mentor and guide future officers of the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Space Force. During a sit-down discussion with the honorees, Bass conveyed her expectations and answered questions relating to their year-long journey.
“If there is one thing you should take away from this ... one thing at all ... it's that you have the ability to change things,” Bass said. "Right now, we need innovative ways to continue developing the Air Force. In your position, you have the attention of your wing and major command and can help influence the Total Force."
During a concluding ceremony, many honorees took a moment to acknowledge the contributions of their families, leaders and teams that help set them up for success.
“This wasn’t possible without my family by my side,” said Tech. Sgt. Justin Bennett, 48th Fighter Wing antiterrorism program manager at RAF Lakenheath, United Kingdom. “More than that, this convention and ceremony gave me the chance to see my family. I’ve been overseas for the past three years, and this event gave us the opportunity to see each other again. More than that, my state-side family never stopped supporting me, and being there for me, my wife and my daughter. I wouldn’t be here without any of the support they have given me."AFWN 



USAF 



AF 



Air Force 



12 OAY 



Outstanding Airmen of the Year 



AFA 



ASC21 



Air Force Association 



Secretary of the Air Force 



Frank Kendall 



SAF 



AETC 



PACAF 



USAFE 



ACC 



AFMC 



AFRC 



AFGSC 



ANG 



AMC 



AFSOC 



CMSAF 



Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force 



JoAnne S. Bass 



Wright-Patterson AFB 



RAF Lakenheath Featured News
        Senior Leader Priorities
                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 fight
                    
                    SecAF Kendall AFA Warfare Symposium Q&A: Reoptimizing for Great Power CompetitionInnovation
                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 finalists
                    
                    Chief Digital, Artificial Intelligence Office to host hackathon in HawaiiMAJCOM 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