Alamo Wing Celebrates Excellence At 14th Annual Awards Banquet

Photo By Tech. Sgt. Melissa Estevez | Chief Master Sgt. Israel Nuñez, Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chief of Air Force Reserve, speaks to annual award nominees before the 14th Annual Alamo Wing Awards Banquet at the Gateway Club on Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas Feb. 01, 2025. Chief Nuñez served as the guest speaker for the event and praised the hard work of the Reserve Citizen Airmen recognized for their excellence. (U.S. Air Force photo by Technical Sgt. Melissa Estevez)  

SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS, UNITED STATES

02.01.2025

Story by Tech. Sgt. Melissa Estevez 

433rd Airlift Wing

The 433rd Airlift Wing celebrated its 14th Annual Awards Banquet Feb. 1, at the Gateway Club.This banquet was held to honor Alamo Wing’s best-of-the-best.

This year’s theme was “The Spirit of 76: Celebrating 76 years of Reserve Airmen standing in defense of our great nation!” More than 250 Reserve Citizen Airmen, honorary commanders, friends, family and guests attended the occasion.

Prior to the awards banquet, the Medallion Ceremony kicked off the event with a medal presentation for all annual award nominees. Col. Douglas C. Jeffrey IV, 433rd Airlift Wing commander, along with Chief Master Sgt. Jonathan Birk, 433rd AW command chief, presented the medals.

This year’s guest speaker was Chief Master Sgt. Israel Nuñez, Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chief of Air Force Reserve and Command Chief Master Sergeant of Air Force Reserve Command. He is the AFRC commander’s primary advisor regarding the welfare, morale, discipline, proper utilization, operational readiness, and war-fighting capability of enlisted U.S. Air Force Reserve personnel stationed worldwide.

Nuñez emphasized there are many paths taken to service, and in sharing his own Air Force journey, he offered many examples of how important it is to take care of Airmen.

“As we celebrate your individual excellence today, let us also remember that excellence is not just about individual achievements... it is about the unwavering dedication to our fellow Airmen,” said Nuñez.

As part of his closing remarks, Jeffrey shared a story from his time as a young pilot. As Jeffrey and a team of pilots struggled to appropriately move, organize, and load some cargo, a young port dawg stepped up and took the time to show the pilots the right way to do it. Turns out, that port dawg and pilot were reunited at the awards banquet.

“Thank you, Chief Nuñez, for teaching us how to organize, train, and equip,” said Jeffrey. “Your words mean a lot to us here at the Alamo Wing... because of what you have done and who you have mentored, so thank you!”

The following were recognized as the annual award winners:

• Airman Senior Airman Zoe Briceno 433rd Security Forces Squadron
• Non-Commissioned Officer Technical Sgt. Venus Rich 433rd Security Forces Squadron
• Senior Non-Commissioned Officer Master Sgt. Steven Redgate II 433rd Security Forces Squadron
• First Sergeant Master Sgt. Heather Atherton 733rd Training Squadron
• Key Support Liaison Ms. Tabitha Thorland 433rd Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron
• Company Grade Officer Capt. Michael Lane 68th Airlift Squadron
• Field Grade Officer Maj.Meredith Peiffer 433rd Aeromedical Staging Squadron
• Flight Commander 1st Lt. Danika Deems 433rd Medical Squadron
• Civilian Category I Ms. Jacquelynn Burrell 433rd Operations Support Squadron
• Civilian Category II Mr. Thomas Taylor 433rd Maintenance Squadron
• Civilian Category III Mr. Oscar Lamas 733rd Training Squadron
• Alamo Wing Combat Ready Spirit Award 433rd Contingency Response Flight

• Date Taken: 02.01.2025
• Date Posted: 01.22.2026 13:44
• Story ID: 556518
• Location: SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS, US