366th Fighter Wing Announces Annual Award Winners

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  • 366th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
MOUNTAIN HOME AIR FORCE BASE, Idhao --  The 366th Fighter Wing announces its 2011 Annual Awards.

Rank and name: Senior Airman Cory Branham

Unit and duty title: 366th Logistics Readiness Squadron, Customer Support Supervisor

Time in Air Force: 4 years, 3 months

Time at Mountain Home Air Force Base: 4 years

Hometown: Plymouth, OH

Hobbies: University of Michigan athletics, Cleveland Indians baseball, weightlifting, country music, church, motorcycle riding, and volunteering.

What service does Senior Airman Branham provide to the Gunfighters? Airman Branham acts as liaison between Global Logistics Support Center (GLSC) and base customers on all supply related issues. Updates stock number records and ensures information interfaces with the supply systems. This allows all wing and tenant units located on Mountain Home Air Force Base to have access to any needed assets in Air Force control.
Most memorable Air Force moment: Graduating ALS is my best memory. I attended the largest class ever here at Mountain Home and learned a tremendous amount from my classmates. I was put in a position to help those who were struggling academically and I am very proud to say that no one in my flight failed. I was also fortunate enough to be selected as the John L. Levitow recipient. Also, my mother was able to attend the ceremony and it was the first military event she had ever been to. Sharing that moment with mom is something we both value.

Interesting personal fact: I plan to run for president in 2040.


Rank and name: Staff Sgt. Jeffery Belew

Unit and duty title: 389th Aircraft Maintenance Unit

Time in Air Force: 5 Years, 1 Month

Time at Mountain Home Air Force Base: 4 Years, 7 Months

Hometown: Dallas, TX

Hobbies: School, friends, weightlifting and ping pong

What service does Staff Sgt. Jeffery Belew provide to the Gunfighters? As an engine specialist in the 389th AMU, Sergeant Belew ensures all installed F100-PW-220 engines are maintained to the highest standard. This includes but is not limited to: troubleshooting system faults, servicing engines, performing isochronal inspections of rotating parts, and the replacement of time expired engine components.

Most memorable Air Force moment: My most memorable moment in the Air Force was during my first engine run at test cell. The testing of uninstalled engines is an extremely in-depth process that takes extensive training. I was proud to have been deemed worthy to perform such a critical task.

Interesting personal fact: I was married on February 4, 2012 to Sarah Everroad. I proposed to her in terminal three at London Heathrow airport while I was in transit for my deployment, and she was coming home from her deployment.


Rank and name: Senior Master Sgt. Donald Hendershott

Unit and duty title: 366th Equipment Maintenance Squadron, Maintenance Superintendent

Time in Air Force: 24 Years, 6 Months

Time at Mountain Home Air Force Base: 2 Years, 7 Months

Hometown: Elmhurst, IL

Hobbies: Golf and youth sports

What service does Senior Master Sgt. Hendershott provide to the Gunfighters? Leads a 451 member squadron providing personnel, equipment, and expertise required to perform maintenance on the wing's fleet of F-15 aircraft, munitions, and support equipment.

Most memorable Air Force moment: Landing in Bratislava, Slovakia to support an air show in the early 1990s. It was the first time western aircraft participated in an air show in the former eastern-block country after the Berlin wall came down. We took in 2 each F-15s, A-10s, F-111s, and F-16s to fly demonstrations for a full week. All Air Force personnel were required to travel together, escorted by police, and were mobbed for autographs every time we got off the bus.

Interesting personal fact: Fostered a "Prison Dog." Continued training a dog after it completed behavioral training until it was placed as a service dog in Oregon


Rank and name: Master Sgt. Michael Vonahnen

Unit and duty title: 366 Operations Support Squadron, First Sergeant

Time in Air Force: 13 Years, 6 months

Time at Mountain Home Air Force Base: 2 Years, 6 months

Hometown: Waymart, PA

Hobbies: Spending time with my family, running 3 to 5 times a week, fishing, playing various sports, reading the Bible, traveling and visiting new places.

What service does Mater Sgt. Vonahnen provide to the Gunfighters? Master Sgt. Vonahnen serves as first sergeant for the 366th Operations Group. As the group's first sergeant, he advises commanders on a wide range of topics including health, discipline, mentoring, and professional development for over 500 personnel assigned to two fighter squadrons, an Operations Support Squadron, a Republic of Singapore Air Force Fighter Squadron, and the 390th Electronic Combat Squadron, Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Washington, in support of the wing's F-15E Strike Eagle mission. Additionally, Sergeant Vonahnen works with fellow wing senior noncommissioned officers and supervisory personnel to ensure discipline is equitably maintained and that the needs of the enlisted force are met. Lastly, he served as the president of the First Sergeant Council, engaging in numerous events, functions and meetings to help enhance the morale of more than four thousand assigned to the wing.

Most memorable Air Force moment: My most memorable Air Force moment took place in the summer of 2005. I was stationed at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, when Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast region. The base and San Antonio served as a reception spot for over 10,000 evacuees. I was part of the initial evacuee reception team that met and unloaded the first wave of aircraft. We provided water to everyone who got off the plane. Some individuals were unable to walk, so I had to physically carry them off of the plane and place them on a bus that would take the evacuees to a shelter. The evacuees were very grateful for the assistance they received. They had so much gratitude towards the Airmen that were lending a helping hand. I had so much pride in myself and it was a tremendous feeling to know that I was directly helping my fellow Americans. The evacuees had lost virtually everything in the hurricane. It was a humbling experience to see even the smallest of gestures, such as giving the evacuees water, could bring a smile to their faces.
Interesting personal fact: I entered basic training two weeks after graduating high school.


Rank and name: Capt. Matthew Brill

Unit and duty title: 366th Security Forces Squadron, Operations Officer

Time in Air Force: 7 years

Time at Mountain Home Air Force Base: 10 months

Hometown: Roseville, CA

Hobbies: Running, hiking, mountain biking/cycling, adventure sports, traveling

What service does Capt. Brill provide to the Gunfighters? As the SF Operations officer, Capt. Brill leads over 200 enlisted Airmen and Department of the Air Force guards in protecting Mountain Home Air Force Base through installation access control, flightline security, community policing, Military Working Dog support, and ground combat skills training.

Most memorable Air Force moment: The loss of 1st Lt. Joseph D. Helton in Baghdad, Iraq. Capt. Brill was the Director of Operations for the 732 ESFS at Joint Base Balad in 2009 and led operations integration between the U.S. Army and all Air Force Security Forces conducting In Lieu Of operations. Capt. Brill received the phone call on Sep. 8, 2009, from Police Transition Team (PTT) Det 2, that Helton had been killed by an Explosively Formed Projectile while conducting convoy patrols near Mahmudiyah, Iraq. The subsequent days found Brill researching and gaining improved dedicated air and intelligence support for the PTT mission to mitigate further losses. Shortly thereafter, Brill attended a service at Camp Stryker, Iraq, coincidentally adjacent to a path called Band of Brothers Road. He witnessed the strength of brotherhood between Defenders, intelligence officers, maintainers, medics, communication technicians, and Army counterparts memorialize Helton's sacrifice. Despite their differences, more than 300 service members found a common bond and the courage to stick together to honor their fallen brother and continue their missions the following day. 1st Lt. Helton was the first Air Force SF officer to be killed in combat since the Vietnam War.
Interesting personal fact: Capt Brill is currently training for his first triathlon. His ultimate goal will be to compete in an Ironman Traithlon.


Rank and name: Major Brian Kittelson

Unit and duty title: 366th Medical Group, Flight Commander Medical Services

Time in Air Force: 15 years 6 months

Time at Mountain Home Air Force Base: 2 years, 3 months

Hometown: Hudson, Florida

Hobbies: Golf, Tennis, Snowboarding, Coaching youth sports

What service does Major Kittelson provide to the Gunfighters? Functions as a Family Nurse Practitioner providing medical care to the Gunfighter's, their families, and eligible beneficiaries in the community.

Most memorable Air Force moment: My promotion to Captain, it was memorable to me because I had my family around me, including my parents and I was thankful to have been promoted to the rank of Captain. It was the first time I really chose the military because I wanted it, not because I owed any time since my commitment from ROTC was completed. I felt I belonged and that the Air Force wanted me and I knew I wanted to stay in the Air Force to make it my career and my life. Since that time I have been fortunate to have had many great leaders to learn from and this has allowed me to have an awesome career, and I am not done with it by any means. .

Interesting personal fact: I never flew in an airplane until I was 21 years old on the way to ROTC summer camp.


Rank and name: GS-5, Brigette Gurwell

Unit and duty title: 366 Logistics Readiness Squadron Command Support Staff - Secretary

Time in Air Force: 7 years

Time at Mountain Home Air Force Base: 3 years

Hometown: Anaheim, CA

Hobbies: Riding my Harley, swimming, snowboarding, bike riding, hiking/walking

What service does Brigette Gurwell provide to the Gunfighters? Provides administrative and customer support to the LRS Commander and all personnel assigned 366 LRS.

Most memorable Air Force moment: Incentive ride on a KC-135 Tanker; very few people have the opportunity to witness firsthand the refueling of fighter jets while midair. One does not realize how close the two planes are until the fighter jet hooks up to the KC-135 and one can actually see the pilots face.

Interesting personal fact: I've never smoked a cigarette (or any other item) nor have I ever been inebriated in my life.


Rank and name: GS-09, Randall Danner

Unit and duty title: 366 Fighter Wing Safety, Occupational Safety Specialist

Time in Air Force: 3 years 6 months at this job. Retired from AF with 20 years.

Time at Mountain Home Air Force Base: 12 years

Hometown: Tacoma Washington

Hobbies: Gardening, Camping, Hiking, Cruising on my Motorcycle

What service does Randy provide to the Gunfighters? Randy provides Safety consultations to Commanders and supervisors base wide. He also conducts safety inspections and investigations throughout the Fighter Wing. He is the Wing Motorcycle Program Manager and is the lead Motorcycle Safety Foundation Instructor. Additionally, Randy is the Group Resource Advisor for the 366 Fighter Wing Staff.

Most memorable Air Force moment: When a shop supervisor that had historically held an adversarial attitude towards Wing Safety called and asked if I could come visit his shop to help identify any safety issues. At that point I realized Safety does make a difference.

Interesting personal fact: Has a Masters of Aeronautical Science degree from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University. Randy is also a University Professor teaching graduate classes in Occupational Safety and Transportation Security.


Rank and name: GS-11 Connie S. Powers

Unit and duty title: 366th Medical Group, Family Advocacy Outreach Manager

Time in Air Force: 5 years, 6 months Civil Service

Time at Mountain Home Air Force Base: 5 years, 6 months

Hometown: Mountain Home, ID

Hobbies: gardening, baking, reading, playing with grandchildren

What service does Connie Powers provide to the Gunfighters? Mrs. Powers promotes resiliency for Airmen and their families by providing education for couple's in communication, parenting, anger management, and healthy relationships. She train Commanders, First Sergeants, and leadership on how to recognize signs of maltreatment and provide support for families to prevent maltreatment.

Most memorable Air Force moment: When I provide a service for Airmen and their families and they are appreciative of that service. Being involved in the Airmen and Family Retreats in Cascade and watching families make memories together.

Interesting personal fact: 1,430 workouts at CURVES

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