TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- The 507th Air Refueling Wing announced the winners of the 2016 individual awards Feb. 4.
Col. Doug Gullion, 507th Air Refueling Wing commander, made the announcements at the annual awards banquet at the Tinker Club ballroom.
The individual awards program recognizes individuals who excelled in performance and made outstanding contributions to the wing’s mission. This year's winners:
507th Air Refueling Wing Airman of the Year: Senior Airman Richard Franz, 507th Operations Support Squadron.
507th Air Refueling Wing NCO of the Year: Tech. Sgt. Sarah Plueger, 507th Operations Support Squadron.
507th Air Refueling Wing Senior NCO of the Year: Master Sgt. Eric Kiddie, 507th Security Forces Squadron.
507th Air Refueling Wing 1st Sgt. of the Year: Master Sgt. Kimberlee Koldste, 507th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron 1st Sgt.
507th Air Refueling Wing Company Grade Officer of the Year: Capt. Christopher Nutt, 465th Air Refueling Squadron.
507th Air Refueling Wing Civilian of the Year: Mrs. Rachael Garrison, 465th Air Refueling Squadron.
507th Air Refueling Wing Spouse of the Year: Mrs. Tara Randol, wife of Master Sgt. James Randol, 507th Civil Engineer Squadron.
The Tech. Sgt. Billy Hughes Memorial Award is presented annually to an individual in the maintenance group whose duty performance and everyday conduct best exemplifies the U.S. Air Force’s core values.
This award for exemplary enlisted service was instituted to commemorate the life of Tech. Sgt. Billy Hughes, a supervisory aircraft maintenance technician who passed away in active service at Tinker Air Force Base July 12, 1992, after a decade of honorable service to the wing.
Tech. Sgt. Billy Hughes Memorial Award of the Year: Tech. Sgt. Bradley Block, 507th Maintenance Squadron.