104th Fighter Wing Airmen recognized at 45th Annual Awards Banquet

Story by A1C Randall Burlingame on 01/13/2019

BARNES AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Massachusetts. Approximately 460 Airmen and their family members attended the 45th Annual 104th Fighter Wing Awards Banquet Jan. 12, 2019, Springfield, Massachusetts.

The awards banquet recognized more than 30 Airmen for their hard work and accomplishments in 2018.

“We’ve been putting on an outstanding event for the last 45 years to truly recognize the best of the best, which in this organization is extremely difficult,” said Colonel Peter T. Green III, 104th Fighter Wing commander. “At the end of the day somebody has to rise to the top.”

Although more than 30 individuals were recognized at the Group and Squadron level, six received Wing level awards for excellence.

The 2018 Wing-level award winners are: Senior Airman Stephanie Walker, Airman of the Year; Tech. Sgt. Christopher Luke, Noncommissioned Officer of the Year; Master Sgt. Aaron Richards, Senior NCO of the Year; Senior Airmen Daniela Rizzari, Active Guard/Reserve Technician of the Year; Capt. Mark Silvers, Company Grade Officer of the Year; and Mrs. Chrissy Bassett, Civilian of the Year.

“We always do what we need to do,” said Green. “That’s what makes us different. We always get the job done.”

Additionally, Senior Master Sgt. Christopher Byrne received the Maj. Gen. George W. Keefe Enlisted Award, Senior Airman Kyle Duran earned the Annual Ground Safety Award and Tech. Sgt. Kyle Giovanni won the Annual Flight Safety Award.