SPRINGFIELD-BECKLEY AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Ohio — Tech. Sgt. Kristen Harmon of the 178th Security Forces Squadron at Springfield-Beckley Air National Guard Base has been recognized at the national level for her leadership and operational excellence.
Harmon was named the Air National Guard Operations Noncommissioned Officer (NCO) of the Year, an honor that recognizes outstanding performance among Security Forces professionals across the nation.
The award is administered through the National Guard Bureau and is open to competitors from across the Air National Guard. This year, approximately 18 NCOs were nominated for the Operations category, representing thousands of security forces personnel nationwide.
According to Senior Master Sgt. Chris Distel, Senior Enlisted Leader for the 178th Security Forces Squadron, the selection process is both competitive and deliberate.
“Every year, our defenders accomplish incredible things,” Distel said. “When it’s time to submit award packages, we look for individuals who not only deserve recognition, but who can represent our squadron and the Air National Guard at the highest level.”
Nominees are submitted through a comprehensive award package that includes detailed narrative statements, professional records, and formal evaluations. Harmon’s package highlighted her leadership during complex operations and training exercises, including a large-scale readiness event evaluated by Air Combat Command.
During the exercise, Harmon co-led a combined force of 30 defenders and more than 65 augmentees, providing continuous 72-hour security for over 500 personnel. The team was evaluated on 25 mission-essential tasks and earned a perfect score, contributing to the wing’s placement in the top five percent of Air Combat Command total force wings.
For Harmon, the recognition reflects the efforts of her team rather than individual achievement.
“My name may be on the award, but it belongs to the airmen,” Harmon said. “They executed the mission. I may have helped plan and lead, but they’re the reason we succeed every day.”
Distel credits that success to a strong culture of trust and empowerment within the squadron.
"Harmon’s win continues a trend of national recognition for the 178th Security Forces Squadron. Over the past five years, the squadron has earned 11 Air National Guard Security Forces functional awards, multiple wing- and state-level honors, and has twice been recognized as the wing’s top unit."
“We put a lot of responsibility on our NCOs,” Distel said. “We expect them to lead, to train, and to take ownership of their people and their missions. That investment in NCO development shows up in results like this.”
Harmon, who previously earned Air National Guard Security Forces Airman of the Year in 2020, will accept the award this week at the National Guard Bureau in Washington, D.C. The presentation will be made by the Air National Guard Director of Security Forces.
Despite the recognition, Harmon says her focus remains on developing the next generation of leaders.
“As a leader, my goal is for my airmen to feel supported and capable,” she said. “I want them to succeed and eventually surpass me. That’s how we keep getting better.”
The award not only highlights Harmon’s accomplishments but also underscores the continued excellence of the 178th Security Forces Squadron and its role in supporting mission readiness at home and abroad.