Six Airmen from the 49th Wing were recognized during a decoration ceremony at Club Holloman, July 10, 2026, for combat achievements and meritorious service while supporting operations across the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility.
The Airmen served with expeditionary security forces units responsible for defending personnel, aircraft and critical warfighting assets during a period marked by ballistic missile and one-way attack drone threats. Their actions helped preserve base defense and operational continuity while enabling thousands of combat sorties.
U.S. Air Force Col. Michael Mullin, 49th Wing commander, presided over the ceremony recognizing Capt. Martin Huffman, Chief Master Sgt. Jeremy Mapalo, Senior Master Sgt. Jacob Brown, Tech. Sgt. George Distel, Staff Sgt. Michael Atengco, and Staff Sgt. Joseph Babbitt.
Atengco and Babbitt received Air and Space Achievement Medals with Combat Device, while Distel and Huffman received Air and Space Commendation Medals with Combat Device. Brown and Mapalo received Bronze Star Medals. Mapalo was also presented the Air Force Combat Action Medal for actions during a previous deployment in support of Operation Octave Shield.
The decorations reflect operations in which Defenders faced a dynamic threat environment. While assigned to their Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron, Distel helped direct base defense operations in support of overseas operations in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility.
During the same deployment, Huffman led Defenders while the installation faced multiple one-way attack drones and ballistic missiles. He also directed the movement of blast-mitigation structures used to protect personnel and aircraft positioned in support of Operation MIDNIGHT HAMMER.
Brown, then serving as operations superintendent for their Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron, led more than 200 Defenders and contractors conducting force-protection operations. His team defended billions of dollars in warfighting assets while enabling thousands of combat sorties supporting multiple named operations.
While deployed, Mapalo led more than 240 personnel through an operational environment that included ballistic missile attacks and one-way attack drones. His team defended billions of dollars in warfighting assets while enabling thousands of combat sorties.
“The courage and teamwork required to win remain the same,” Mapalo said. “Those lessons need to shape how we prepare the next generation.”
For the six Holloman Airmen recognized during the ceremony, those lessons were forged while defending personnel and critical combat capabilities against simultaneous air and ground threats, enabling air operations to continue in an increasingly contested battlespace.