306th Rescue Squadron Airman awarded 2021 combat rescue officer of year award

Photo By Andre Trinidad | Captain Ryan Gilbert, 306th Rescue Squadron combat rescue officer, was awarded the 2021 Air Force Special Warfare Combat Rescue Officer CGO of the Year. Air Force combat rescue officers are trained to lead special operations forces in conducting personnel and material recovery operations. (Courtesy photo)  

AZ, UNITED STATES

07.13.2022

Story by Senior Airman Nicole Koreen 

920th Rescue Wing

DAVIS-MONTHAN AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --
Captain Ryan Gilbert of the 306th Rescue Squadron was awarded the 2021 Air Force Special Warfare Combat Rescue Officer CGO of the Year award here this month.

Air Force combat rescue officers are trained to lead special operations forces in conducting personnel and material recovery operations. While deployed, combat rescue officers plan and organize missions leading combat search and rescue assets; pararescue and survival; evasion, resistance, and escape operations, including aerospace interface in the recovery objective area while coordinating the evacuation of isolated personnel to friendly control.

Captain Gilbert displayed exceptional leadership and dedication throughout the year to earn this award. He deployed in support of United States Africa Command objectives as the director of operations leading 66 Airmen across four geographically separated units. He maintained accountability of over six million dollars in critical equipment, enabling special operations forces, other governmental agencies and Department of State Combat-related missions by providing over 2,000 hours of personnel recovery.

Additionally, he led three of the wing and group's largest exercises. He facilitated all coordination with 3,000 joint and partner-nation forces, providing rotary-wing, fixed-wing, and maritime support to secure the Secretary of Defense’s top three priorities.

Captain Gilbert was a key leader for Department of Defense resiliency by redeploying 21 members via the deployed transition center and bridging combat vets with home front skills fortifying mental stability and career longevity.

• Date Taken: 07.13.2022
• Date Posted: 08.08.2022 08:15
• Story ID: 425921
• Location: AZ, US