Above and beyond the call of duty

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Regina Agoha
  • 19th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
LITTLE ROCK AIR FORCE BASE, Ark. --  As he stood on stage Nov. 30, holding his award, surrounded by a group of individuals significant in his life, facing more than 150 attendees, he said he thought to himself, "This is absolutely surreal."

Growing up with a father who was a Marine and later became a physician, a mom who was also a doctor and two sisters who joined the Navy, Capt. Kazimir Kostrubala knew from an early age that serving in the military was something he wanted to do. Never did he imagine that after serving seven years in the Air Force, he would be recognized by the Department of Defense, he said.

Kostrubala, 19th Logistics Readiness Squadron operations officer and installation deployment officer, won the 2011 Defense Logistics "Beyond the Call of Duty: Logistician of the Year Award" at the 8th Annual Defense Logistics Awards Ceremony held in Arlington, Va., at the Marriott Crystal Gateway.

The Defense Logistics Awards Ceremony was created in order to honor, recognize and promote the logisticians in the U.S. Department of Defense and the Defense Industry who've gone above and beyond and have made significant contributions to military logistics.

"Kostrubala was nominated based on his outstanding scholastic achievements as an IU-UNC LogMBA student in pursuant of a Masters Degree in Business Administration," said Lt. Col. Steven Coy, 19th Logistics Readiness Squadron commander. "I felt a sense of pride for such an outstanding officer to be recognized for his achievements."

Kostrubala said he didn't know that he was nominated until two weeks before the ceremony. He was one out of four other people who made it as DOD finalists.

"It was humbling," said Kostrubala. "I looked up the other three finalists, and when you're in the company of others who've done some great things as well, you go, 'I don't have a chance.' To be in that type of company, is definitely humbling."

Being recognized DOD-wide did not give Kostrubala a mind frame to think that he had "arrived," and there was nothing else he needed to accomplish in his Air Force career; rather, it gave him the initiative to challenge himself and see what else was there for him to achieve.

"To me, receiving this award means do more," said Kostrubala. "I don't know why, but when you do something in your life, it makes you realize that you need to do more.

Getting recognized on behalf of the Air Force, makes me think, 'now I know I really can't let them down,'" he smiled. "You've got to keep working. Learn and grow," he said.

As Kostrubala learns and grows, his character and work ethic is noticed and admired by the leadership he works around.

"Kostrubala is a professional and honorable officer dedicated to serving his country and to developing Airmen and noncommissioned officers for leadership roles," said Coy. "He is epithet of service before self and an example to be emulated. His work ethic is outstanding as evidenced by the first-class-deployment operation he manages for the wing. His pursuant of excellence is to be commended."

Kostrubala realizes that his success came from many significant events starting from the beginning of his Air Force days. Every mentor or supervisor he's had, he said, was a stepping stone leading to the day he received the Logistician of the Year Award.

"Someone who was instrumental in helping me achieve this award was Lt. Col. John Winkler, J4 Deputy Director, NATO Air Training Command, Afghanistan, 438th Air Expeditionary Wing, who's deployed now," said Kostrubala. "He was my former commander. When this project started, which eventually led to the award, he was there with me every step of the way, so I feel a little bad that he's now serving overseas, and he can't share in it, but I wish that he was here. It couldn't have been done without him."

Kostrubala is held in the highest regard by his leaders and peers, said Coy. He is a testament for others to follow as his achievements speak for themselves.

Some future aspirations for Kostrubala are to improve himself as well as his team, and one day he wants the opportunity to command. He has also set his sights high with some political future endeavors.

"I would love to be in the White House Fellowship Program," he said. "This is a competitive, government sponsored program where a small number of selectees from the DOD go to the White House or other federal departments and pair up with someone of high political status and work with them for approximately one year. I think that would be an honor. Of all the decisions made for us who wear the uniform, it starts with a civilian. I would love to be out there to see their decision-making process because everyday we're serving civilians, so I would love to see that connection."

Coy believes that young Airmen and officers can learn from the character and attitude of Kostrubala to use what he's accomplished as a pattern of success that they can follow.

"Exemplify the Air Force core values of service before self, integrity above reproach, and excellence in all we do," said Coy. "Capt Kostrubala lives by these values and they have serviced him well."