LITTLE ROCK AIR FORCE BASE, Ark. --
Two members of the 314th Airlift Wing recently took top
honors at the annual Airlift/Tanker Association conference in Nashville,
Tennessee, for fiscal year 2016.
The ATA recognizes Air Force active-duty, Reserve and
retired personnel, both officer and enlisted, as well as industrial supporters
and civilians throughout the air mobility mission.
Hard work and dedication have proven to be core
characteristics of both U.S. Air Force Capt. William Burrows and U.S. Air Force
Staff Sgt. Gregory Marquardt.
Burrows was awarded the Airlift/Tanker Young Leadership
Award. A timeless volunteer, Burrows managed 389 crew members in FY 2016; the
wing point-man for the secretary of the Air Force visit to Little Rock Air
Force Base; won the Company Grade Officer of the Year honor; and facilitated
flight training for 10 international students.
“I feel very honored to even be considered for this,” said
Burrows, a 314th Airlift Wing flying training unit instructor pilot. “It’s a
very large pool of eligible people.”
Marquardt was awarded the General Dutch Huyser Outstanding
Aircrew Member Award. Just this year, Marquardt obtained 181 hours of training;
facilitated weekly cargo meetings with eight base agencies; a technical
sergeant nominee for stripes for exceptional performers, the additional duty
supply officer helping overcome an Army shortfall; and earned his second
Community College of the Air Force degree.
“I was, and I am still, surprised I was selected,” said Marquardt,
a 62nd Airlift Squadron standardization and evaluation liaison/C-130J formal
training unit instructor loadmaster. “I know how hard every loadmaster works
over the course of a year and all the time they spend away from their families.
I am beyond grateful of my enlisted leadership who made this possible.”
These Airmen epitomize Integrity First, Service Before Self
and Excellence in All We Do and have set the bar for future recipients of these
awards.
(Editor’s Note: Both
Airmen were assigned to the 48th AS when they were selected for this
honor. Both have been reassigned to different units but are both still
stationed at Little Rock Air Force Base under the 314th AW.)