Steel Airmen of the 911th Airlift Wing gathered at the Sheraton Pittsburgh Aiport Hotel for the 2026 Annual Awards Banquet on March 7, 2025, where they celebrated the Wing's outstanding performance and dedication to mission readiness.
At a national level, The Outstanding Airmen of the Year program recognizes 12 enlisted members from across Air Force career fields, competing in three categories: Airman, Noncommissioned Officer, and Senior NCO. At local levels like Pittsburgh IAP ARS, events like this serve as an opportunity for leaders to acknowledge excellence and talent throughout the Wing in front of their peers and reinforce the meaning of being a "Steel Airman."
Selection criteria are exceptional job performance in primary duty, superior leadership and followership, and embodying the whole Airman concept. The Wing Commander, with the help of his command chief, recognized nine service members and civilians as Outstanding Airmen of the Year to represent the 911th AW at the Air Force Reserve Command level.
This year's winners are:
During the awards banquet, Col. Douglas Stouffer, 911th Airlift Wing commander, reflected on the current dynamic global environment. He emphasized the impact the 911th AW has had in a global capacity, both during an after the WIng's recent deployment to the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility.
“I can’t help but think a few short months ago, we were in a similar theater,” Stouffer said, “we were doing our nation’s work and continuing on – but that is what our wing is here to do.”
To garnish the accomplishments of Reserve Airmen from Pittsburgh, this year the 911th AW was awarded the Raincross Trophy, naming the 911th AW as the best of 18 wings in the Fourth Air Force. Stouffer and Chief Master Sgt. Dennis Jendrzejewski, 911th Airlift Wing command chief, accepted the award on behalf of the Wing days before the banquet in Riverside, California.
“When the Air Force calls, we don’t let it go to voicemail,” Jendrzejewski noted.
During times of both peace and conflict, dedicated Reserve Airmen across the globe prove that a culture of military excellence and civilian expertise generates unrivaled airpower anytime, anywhere.