Local airmen honored
By Other
Published in News on June 17, 2005 1:45 PM
Special to The News-Argus
SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE -- A Goldsboro resident received information that he was the best of the best of all the airmen in 39 flying units in the Air Force Reserve. Senior Master Sgt. Sean P. Martin, a member of the 916th Air Refueling Wing since 1992, won the Headquarters Air Force Reserve Command Directorate of Operations 2004 Outstanding Enlisted Aircrew Member of the Year Award.
"Senior Master Sgt. Martin is a proven credit and critical asset to the Air Force Reserve, the Air Force, and this great nation of ours," said Col. Mark Kolleda, 916th Operations Group commander. "The 916th Operations Group and Team Seymour are very proud for the command's recognition of him as the best of the best for 2004. It is with great honor and pride that I work side by side with this outstanding airman."
Martin is the non-commissioned officer in charge on aircrew standardization and evaluation. He supported the Asian-Pacific Economic Conference in Chile in 2004, helping to provide airborne protection for President George W. Bush during the conference and is noted as one of the top aircrew evaluators in the Air Force. As a member of the Goldsboro community, he volunteers his time to assist with the Boy Scouts of America as an assistant scout master and is a volunteer with the Wayne County Sunrise Kiwanis Club and a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars post in Bayonne, N.J.
Another Goldsboro resident was recently recognized for superior performance in the workplace. Senior Master Sgt. Billie G. Perdue, a reservist with the 916th Air Refueling Wing, was recognized as the Command Post Senior Controller of the Year for Air Force Reserve Command.
Perdue works at the 916th ARW full-time as a federal employee as the superintendent of the command post. His contributions both on and off base helped him achieve this national recognition. In 2004, he developed and established a training plan that was adopted by Air Mobility Command as a command-wide model program and was noted as a superior performer during the unit's recent unit compliance inspection. In addition to serving his country, Perdue also volunteers with the Spanish Special Olympics team as a speaker and master of ceremonies.
"Sergeant Perdue is a leader and inspiration to those around him," said Col. Paul J. Sykes, 916th ARW commander. "He is truly deserving of this recognition, and we're proud of the efforts he puts forward for not only the 916th, but the entire command."