94th hosts commander’s call Published March 9, 2010 By Airman 1st Class Jennifer K. Meeks Public Affairs DOBBINS AIR RESERVE BASE, Ga. -- Col. Heath J. Nuckolls, 94th Airlift Wing commander, held a commanders call at Hangar 5 here March 6. Members from the 94th Mission Support and Maintenance Groups attended a 9 a.m. session and personnel from the 94th Operations Group, 94th Aeromedical Staging Squadron and 94th Airlift Wing staff attended a 1 p.m. session. "The purpose of the commander's call is to pass information to the organization," said Col. Heath J. Nuckolls, commander of the 94th Airlift Wing. "It's also an opportunity to tell everybody thanks for all the hard work they're doing." Fourteen Airmen were presented awards for exemplary service. During the first session, Air Force Achievement Medals were presented to Tech. Sgt. Dennis J. Vasquez, maintenance technician, 94th Maintenance Group for Outstanding Achievement Jun. thru Aug. 22, 2009, Staff Sgt. Brian D. Huelskamp, civil engineer, 94th Civil Engineering Squadron, for outstanding achievement Jul. 1 thru Aug. 15, 2008 and Senior Airman Xavier J. Jernigan for Outstanding Achievement during his 17 July to 14 Jan. service to the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing, Joint Base Balad, Iraq. An Air Force Commendation Medal was presented to Technical Sergeant Sharon L. Veal, air terminal operations center supervisor, 80th Aerial Port Squadron, for meritorious service 01 Sept. 1, 2005 to December 1, 2008. Colonel Nuckolls presented the 2009 wing annual awards to Company Grade Officer of the Year, 1st Lt Katrina Jones, operations officer, 94th Maintenance Flight, Senior Non-commissioned Officer of the Year, Master Sgt. Darrell E. Harper, air transportation craftsman, 80th Aerial Port Squadron and Airman of the Year, Senior Airman Jermaine L. Williams, 94th Maintenance Operations Flight. During the second session, the Air Force Achievement Medal was awarded to Senior Airman Candice L. Hunter, Aeromedical Evacuation Medical Technician, 94th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron for outstanding achievement during a deployment to 332d Air Expeditionary Wing, Joint Base Balad, Iraq May 17 thru Sept. 17, 2009. The Air Medal was awarded to 94th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron members, Lt. Col David E. Rodberg, Capt. Jeff M. Wilson and , Capt. Karen L. Knoblock, aeromedical evacuation flight nurses, and Tech. Sgt. Michael S. Beck, Aeromedical Evacuation Technician for meritorious achievement Jan. thru May 2009 at the 332d Expeditionary Wing, Joint Base Balad, Iraq. Annual awards were presented to First Sergeant of the Year, Master Sgt. Carl VanDiver of the 700 Airlift Squadron and Master Sgt. Edward J. Kennedy, resource manager, 94th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron. "What a way to start a commanders call," said Command Chief Master Sgt. John M. Anderson of the 94th Airlift Wing. Before presenting the wing commander, Chief Anderson spoke about three key attributes of a successful airman: honor, commitment and respect. He concluded with words regarding his view of the 94th Airlift Wing. "I will tell you right now emphatically in front of this American flag that the 94th Airlift Wing is powerful, it's strong and it's got a solid future," said Chief Anderson. During his presentation, Col. Nuckolls began by talking about the importance of keeping Enlisted Performance Report (EPR) information up-to-date, Dobbins' role in providing Haiti relief and the Annual Wing Family Day. Col. Nuckolls concluded the commander's call with notices of wing changes scheduled for May. Over the next two months, Col. Joseph J. Thomas, vice wing commander, 94th Airlift Wing is slated to depart from the wing and Colonel Nuckolls himself is slated to transition to Headquarters 22nd Air Force. Col. Timothy E. Tarchick, currently commander of the Minneapolis-St. Paul Air Reserve Station, will take command of the 94th Airlift Wing in June. Col. Nuckolls plans to visit all of the units individually during the May Unit Training Assembly, as it will be his last as wing commander. "If I don't get an opportunity to talk with you directly, it's been a distinct honor and privilege serving with you these last four years," said Col. Nuckolls. Wing representatives discussed several topics, including texting while driving, gossip's effect on the workplace and military benefits and discounts. Narrators were Maj. Mark A. Jordan, executive officer, 94th Operations Group, Capt. Melissa Greene, executive officer, 94th Mission Support Group, Capt. Richard Cox, commander, Maintenance Operations Flight and Capt. Paul Evelyn, clinical nurse, 94th Aeromedical Staging Squadron.
