The Air Force Surgeon General is proud to announce the recipients of the 2025 Air Force Medical Service Annual Awards. The awards include both individual and team awards.
The nominations submitted reflect the extraordinary quality of Air Force medics. The accomplishments of those recognized demonstrate expertise, leadership, and commitment across the full breadth of the mission support we provide to the Air Force and Space Force. We should also acknowledge the hard work and support of Wingmen, fellow medical professionals, at every level, who enabled success.
Please join us in congratulating all award recipients - they represent the many outstanding Air Force medical professionals emulating the AFMS mission: “To deliver Trusted Care…anytime, anywhere.”
Individual Awards:
USAF Health Care Administrator of the Year - Company Grade Category Capt Ria Grace A. Gozon-Marquez 86 MDG, Ramstein AB, Germany, USAFE-AFAF
USAF Medical Service Corps Commitment to Service Award Lt Col Justin L. Wolthuizen HQ AFPC/DPMND, JBSA-Randolph, TX, AFPC
USAF Medical Service Corps Civilian of the Year Ms. Shanelle K. Malnar USAFE/SGX, Ramstein AB, Germany, USAFE-AFAF
USAF Biomedical Clinician of the Year - Company Grade Category Maj Matthew J. Mazick 82 OMRS/SGXH, Sheppard AFB, TX, AETC
USAF Biomedical Clinician of the Year - Field Grade Category Maj Brandon O. Wielert 382 TRS/TXXY, JBSA-Fort Sam Houston, TX, AETC
USAF Biomedical Specialist of the Year - Company Grade Category Capt Tristan P. Eddy 42 HCOS/SGGD, Maxwell AFB, AL, AETC
USAF Biomedical Specialist of the Year - Field Grade Category Lt Col William C. Matthews 75 OMRS/SGXB, Hill AFB, UT, AFMC
USAF Biomedical Clinician Civilian of the Year Ms. Amy L. Schrupp 28 OMRS/SGXD, Ellsworth AFB, SD, AFGSC
USAF Biomedical Specialist Civilian of the Year Dr. Denise L. Kramer 711 HPW/USAFSAM, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH, AFMC
USAF Biomedical Sciences Corps Educator of the Year Capt Leigh M. Durden 711 HPW/USAFSAM, Wright -Patterson AFB, OH, AFMC
USAF Clinical Dentist of the Year Capt Anna M. Captain 20 MDG/SGXD, Shaw, AFB, SC, ACC
USAF Dental Educator of the Year Lt Col Jared D. Mason Lackland Dental Training Sq, JBSA-Lackland, TX, AETC
USAF Health Services Management Airman of the Year SrA Herold Orphee 673 MDSS/SGSM, JB Elmendorf-Richardson, AK, PACAF
USAF Health Services Management NCO of the Year SSgt Jeremy P. Shires 937 Training Support Sq, JBSA-Fort Sam Houston, TX, AETC
USAF Medical Materiel Airman of the Year A1C Za’Nyla A. Robinson 45 HCOS/SGSM, Patrick SFB, FL, AFMC
USAF Medical Materiel NCO of the Year TSgt Jem V. Thipphakesone 48 MDSS/SGSM, RAF Lakenheath, USAFE-AFAF
USAF Biomedical Equipment Technician Airman of the Year SrA Tytus A. Yarbrough 673 MDSS/SGSM, JB Elmendorf-Richardson, AK, PACAF
USAF Biomedical Equipment Technician NCO of the Year TSgt Gabriel Ayala-Martinez AFSOC-GSU, Pope AAF, NC, AFSOC
USAF Base Bioenvironmental Engineering Airman of the Year SrA Bamowo O. Okunowo 1 SOMDG, Hurlburt Field, FL, AFSOC
USAF Base Bioenvironmental Engineering NCO of the Year SSgt Nicholas S. Thornton 55 OMRS/SGXB, Offutt AFB, NE, ACC
USAF Mental Health Airman of the Year SrA Benito Sanchez De La Rosa 81 OMRS/SGPW, Keesler AFB, MS, AETC
USAF Mental Health NCO of the Year TSgt Randi L. Sologaistoa Lackland Trainee Health Sq, JBSA-Lackland, TX, AETC
USAF Diet Therapy Airman of the Year A1C AriOnna M. Lowe 88 DTS/SGQD, Wright Patterson AFB, OH, AFMC
USAF Diet Therapy NCO of the Year TSgt Latrice D. Boyd 88 DTS/SGQD, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH, AFMC
USAF Public Health Airman of the Year SrA Sandra Velasquez Castro 377 OMRS/SGXM, Kirtland AFB, NM, AFGSC
USAF Public Health NCO of the Year TSgt Milyka L. Moses 633 OMRS/SGXS, JB Langley-Eustis, VA, ACC
USAF Respiratory Care Practitioner Airman of the Year SrA Saleema Bano FSH MDOS/SG05L, JBSA-Fort Sam Houston, TX, AETC
USAF Respiratory Care Practitioner NCO of the Year TSgt Derrick Pitchford 60 HCOS/SGGH, Travis AFB, CA, AMC
USAF Physical Medicine Airman of the Year SrA DeVante J. King 375 OMRS/SGXY, Scott AFB, IL, AMC
USAF Physical Medicine NCO of the Year TSgt Ryan A. Thomas 82 OMRS/SGXH, Sheppard AFB, TX, AETC
USAF Aerospace Medicine Airman of the Year SrA Deangelo Reinoso-Bunch 377 OMRS/SGXF, Kirtland AFB, NM, AFGSC
USAF Aerospace Medicine NCO of the Year TSgt David Dejarnette 36 MDG/SGGE, Anderson AFB, Guam, PACAF
USAF Surgical Service Airman of the Year SrA Vincent C. Grant II 673 SGCS/SGCS, JB Elmendorf-Richardson, AK, PACAF
USAF Surgical Service NCO of the Year TSgt Michael P. Hansen FSH SGCS/SGCO, JBSA-Fort Sam Houston, TX, AETC
USAF Pharmacy Technician Airman of the Year SrA Briana L. Rubio 375 MDSS/SGSD, Scott AFB, IL, AMC
USAF Pharmacy Technician NCO of the Year TSgt Scott J. Wadsworth 60 MDTS/SGQP, Travis AFB, CA, AMC
USAF Diagnostic Imaging Airman of the Year SrA Amber K. Lynn 60 MDTS/SGQQ, Travis AFB, CA, AMC
USAF Diagnostic Imaging NCO of the Year TSgt Joshua R. Fleek 86 MDG, Ramstein AB, Germany, USAFE-AFAF
USAF Laboratory Airman of the Year SrA Jacob J. Ramirez 48 MDSS/SGSL, RAF Lakenheath, UK, USAFE-AFAF
USAF Laboratory NCO of the Year TSgt Noah D. Sermon 86 MDG, Ramstein AB, Germany, USAFE-AFAF
USAF Ophthalmic Airman of the Year SrA Felicia M. Sanchez 52 OMRS/SGXH, Spangdahlem AB, UK, USAFE-AFAF
USAF Ophthalmic NCO of the Year TSgt Simon L. Arnold 10 SGCS/SGCO, US Air Force Academy, CO, USAFA
USAF Dental Airman of the Year SrA Madison N. Bentle Bolling MDS, JB Anacostia-Bolling, DC, AFDW
USAF Dental NCO of the Year TSgt Hamila H. Burton 412 OMRS/SGXD, Edwards AFB, CA, AFMC
USAF SNCO Operational Medicine Excellence Award SMSgt Matthew R. Walsh HAF/SG3, Falls Church, VA, HAF
USAF SNCO Organizational Management Excellence Award MSgt Emilio J. Martinez 8 OMRS/SGXP, Kunsan AB, PACAF
USAF SNCO Clinical Support Excellence Award MSgt Nance F. Pea 382 TRS/TXXYAG, JBSA-Fort Sam Houston, TX, AETC
USAF Medical Service SNCO Leadership Award MSgt Monica E. Hipsher 509 MDG/CCC, Whiteman AFB, MO, AFGSC
USAF Company Grade Physician of the Year Capt Erin K. O’Pry 49 HCOS/SGGP, Holloman AFB, NM, AETC
USAF Field Grade Physician of the Year Maj Maggie C. Wertz 480 ISRW/SG, Langley AFB, VA, ACC
USAF Chief of Aerospace Medicine of the Year Award Lt Col Ashley N. Franz 354 MDG/SGP, Eielson AFB, AK, PACAF
USAF Chief of the Medical Staff of the Year Lt Col Julie A. Griffith 20 MDG/SGH, Shaw AFB, SC, ACC
USAF Academic Physician of the Year Award Lt Col Matthew K. Hawks Andrews HCOS/SGGF, JB Andrews, MD, AFDW
USAF Clinical Excellence in Nursing Award – Company Grade Nurse of the Year Capt MiaLisa G. Mossay 72 HCOS/SGGP, Tinker AFB, OK, AFMC
USAF Clinical Excellence in Nursing Award – Field Grade Nurse of the Year Maj Nicole Grow 48 SGCS/SGCM, RAF Lakenheath, UK, USAFE-AFAF
USAF Privileged Advanced Practice Nurse of the Year – Company Grade Category Capt Brittany King 18 OMRS/SGXP, Kadena AB, Japan, PACAF
USAF Privileged Advanced Practice Nurse of the Year – Field Grade Category Maj Naomi C. Torrance 20 MDG/SGGP, Shaw AFB, SC, ACC
USAF Civilian Nurse of the Year Ms. Deedra Nelson 75 OMRS/SGXW, Hill AFB, UT, AFMC
USAF Outstanding Excellence in Nursing Leadership Award Lt Col Jennifer L. Varney 22 HCOS/CC, McConnel AFB, KS, AMC
USAF Outstanding Achievement in Nursing Force Development Award Maj Savannah A. Jumpp 86 MDG, Ramstein AB, Germany, USAFE-AFAF
USAF Nursing Educator of the Year Maj Christy Anne R. Mitchell USUHS, Bethesda, MD, AFELM MED DOD
USAF Medical Service Civilian Performance Excellence Award Ms. Latemia Thomas LAK MDOS/SGOF, JBSA-Lackland, TX, AETC
USAF Medical Service Civilian Organizational Leadership Award Ms. Faith R. Yingling USAFSAM/FEB, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH, AFMC
USAF Medical Service Civilian Enterprise Leadership Excellence Award Ms. Kimberly Hartmann AFMEDCOM/A4/10M, Fort Detrick, MD, AFMEDCOM
USAF Outstanding Achievement in Operational Research Award Maj Anna R. Prendergast 99 MDG/SGEO, Nellis AFB, NV, ACC
USAF Outstanding Personnel Reliability Assurance Program Competent Medical Authority (CMA) of the Year Maj Christy-Lynne M. McGinnis HQ AFPC/DPMON, JBSA-Randolph, AFPC
USAF Outstanding Personnel Reliability Assurance Program MTF Monitor/Technician of the Year SSgt Alyssa N. McDermott 52 OMRS/SGXF, Spangdahlem AB, Germany, USAFE-AFAF
Team Awards:
USAF Medical Logistics Team of the Year 48 MDSS/SGSM, RAF Lakenheath, UK, USAFE-AFAF
USAF Resource Management Team of the Year 45 MDG/SGGR, Patrick SFB, FL, AFMC
USAF Medical Information Services Team of the Year 35 MDSS/SGST, Misawa AB, Japan, PACAF
USAF Health Plan Management Team of the Year 8 HCOS/SGGT, Kunsan AB, ROK, PACAF
USAF Medical Readiness Team of the Year USAFE/SGX, Ramstein AB, Germany, USAFE-AFAF
USAF Medical Service Corps Team of the Year 96 MDG/SGA, Eglin AFB, FL, AFMC
USAF Biomedical Sciences Corps Team of the Year 75 OMRS/SGXB, Hill AFB, UT, AFMC
USAF Small Dental Clinic of the Year 8 OMRS/SGXD, Kunsan AB, ROK, PACAF
USAF Medium Dental Clinic of the Year 56 MDG/SGXD, Luke AFB, AZ, AETC
USAF Large Dental Clinic of the Year 18 DS/SGD, Kadena AB, Japan, PACAF
USAF Outstanding Personnel Reliability Assurance Program Team of the Year 509 OMRS/SGXF, Whiteman AFB, MO, AFGSC
USAF Outstanding Operational Team of the Year 36 MDG/SGGM, Andersen AFB, Guam, PACAF
USAF Best AE Squadron Patient Safety Program 86 Aeromedical Evacuation Sq/AECM, Ramstein AB, Germany, USAFE-AFAF
USAF Surgeon General Hospital of the Year 99 MDG, Nellis AFB, NV, ACC
USAF Surgeon General Clinic of the Year 51 MDG, Osan AB, ROK, PACAF
USAF International Health Operations Team Excellence HQ PACAF/SGX, JB Pearl Harbor-Hickam, HI, PACAF