Five Outstanding 2006 Airmen of the Year announced by the Delaware Air National Guard; individuals honored at enlisted recognition banquet Saturday

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NEW CASTLE, Delaware --  Delaware Air National Guard
Headquarters, 166th Airlift Wing
2600 Spruance Drive
New Castle, DE 19720-1615 

Airmen are residents of Newark, Smyrna and Dover, Delaware and of Ellicott City, Maryland

Media advisory: Photos of each Airman available upon request. Media are invited to Saturday's annual Delaware ANG Enlisted Recognition Banquet, Feb. 10, 2007, at The Double Tree Hotel, 4727 Concord Pike (Rt. 202) in Wilmington, DE. Cocktails: 6:00 p.m., Dinner: 7:00 p.m. Interviews with the award winners can either be conducted before or after the dinner portion.

Contact: Tech. Sgt. Benjamin Matwey
Public Affairs Specialist, 166th Airlift Wing
Cell 302-593-2126, or office 302-323-3369
E-mail: Benjamin.Matwey@denewc.ang.af.mil
Release No. 2007-02-002
February 9, 2007

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NEW CASTLE - The Delaware Air National Guard is announcing their five Outstanding Airmen of the Year for 2006.

Airmen in the first three categories, Airman, Noncommissioned Officer (NCO) and Senior Noncommissioned Officer of the Year were selected from a dozen individuals (four per category) who were previously selected for Airman/NCO/Senior NCO of the Quarter in fiscal year 2006, which ended Sept. 30, 2006.

The first sergeant and honor guard award recipients are selected once annually. 2006 is the first year the Delaware Air National Guard has implemented the nationally recognized Air National Guard program for the honor guard selection. Four of the total of five members will be present at the awards banquet Saturday evening. Senior Airman Adam Davidson is absent because he is currently overseas on a mission to the Horn of Africa.

All five Airmen will become nominees for national level recognition by the Air National Guard.

Airman of the Year: Senior Airman Adam Davidson, a resident of Ellicott City, Maryland 21042, is a member of the 142nd Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron where he is an air-ground medic. Airman Davidson is a part-time member of the unit with over two years (28 months) of experience. He graduated from Mount Saint Joseph High School in Baltimore City, Maryland in 1995, and is currently working towards a certification in physical therapy and looking forward to attending classes at the University of Delaware. Airman Davidson was recognized as "Exceptionally Qualified" during his initial flight evaluation by his flight examiner. Airman Davidson deployed to California in support for patient redistribution of returning wounded war veterans in June 2006, and since Nov. 2006 he has been deployed for 180 days to Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar and the Horn of Africa. In his brief military career he has flown missions in support of four major operations in three active theatres; these include redistribution of patients within the continental U.S., Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom, and the Joint Task Force Horn of Africa.

NCO of the Year: Tech. Sgt. Daniel Spruill, a resident of Newark, Delaware 19702, is a member of the 166th Communications Flight where he is a computer operations technician and database manager. Sgt. Spruill is a full-time unit member with 14 years experience. Since 2001 Sgt. Spruill has been activated to support Operations Noble Eagle and Enduring Freedom, and deployed in 2005 to Mississippi for Hurricane Katrina relief missions. He is currently preparing for an upcoming deployment to Afghanistan. Sgt. Spruill graduated from Caesar Rodney High School, Camden-Wyoming, Delaware, in 1991 and graduated Cum Laude from Goldey-Beacom College, Wilmington, Delaware, in 1995 with a bachelor's degree in business management. During his studies at Goldey-Beacom, he was accepted into the Alpha Chi Honors Program and was recognized in the 1995 edition of Who's Who in American Universities and Colleges.

Senior NCO of the Year: Chief Master Sgt. Michael Forsyth, a resident of Dover, Delaware 19904, is a member of the 166th Aerial Port Flight where he is an air transportation superintendent. Chief Forsyth is a full-time unit member with 17 years experience in the Delaware Air National Guard, with 10 years prior experience in the active duty Air Force from 1980 to 1990 with assignments in England, California, Dover and the Philippines. He has deployed to Spain, England and Germany and recently to Balad Air Base, Iraq for 120 days in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The last base Air Force Operation Readiness Inspection and Unit Compliance Inspection under Chief Forsyth's jurisdiction received scores of "Excellent."
Chief Forsyth recently finished his Community College of the Air Force associates degree in applied science and is working on his bachelors' degree in education at Delaware State University in Dover, Delaware.

First Sergeant of the Year: Master Sgt. James Overton, a resident of Smyrna, DE 19977, is a member of the 166th Maintenance Squadron and the unit first sergeant. Sgt. Overton is a part-time member of the unit who has been in the Delaware Air National Guard for 16-and-a-half years, serving the first 14 of those years in the 166th Security Forces Squadron as a combat arms instructor, and the last two-and-a-half years as the first sergeant in the 166th Maintenance Squadron. Since 2000 he has been employed full-time at Delaware State University in Dover, and since 2005 has been the Chief of Police for D.S.U. He began his career in law enforcement in the Hampton Va. Police Division in 1984 where he served for 16 years until 1990, holding positions of increasing responsibility. Sgt. Overton has as associate in applied science degree from the Community College of the Air Force in criminal justice and human resources, an associate degree in police science from Thomas Nelson Community College (Hampton, Va.) and a bachelor's degree in sociology/criminal justice from Delaware State University. He is currently seeking a master's degree in human resource management from Wilmington College, Dover, Delaware. Sgt. Overton is also a part-time adjunct instructor at Delaware Technical and Community College, Stanton Campus. His wife, Tech. Sgt. Carla Overton, is a member of the 166th Aerial Port Flight, Delaware Air National Guard, and they have three daughters, Cierra, Jada and Jennae.

Honor Guard Manager of the Year: Tech. Sgt. Kelly Ickes, a resident of Smyrna, Delaware, 19977, is financial management and comptroller craftsman with a full-time assignment in the 166th Airlift Wing, Delaware Air National Guard. Sgt. Ickes graduated from Hemet High School, Hemet, California in 1995, and attended Fullerton College in California for two years pursuing a degree in music performance. She enlisted in the United States Air Force in October of 1997 and graduated from basic training in December 1997. She completed Financial Management and Comptroller Technical School at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas in April 1998. From 1998 to 2002 she was stationed at the 436th Comptroller Squadron at Dover AFB, Delaware, and enlisted in the Delaware Air National Guard in January 2003. She was mobilized in support of Operation Noble Eagle in March 2003. She earned an associates degree in applied science in financial management from the Community College of the Air Force in 2003. Sgt. Ickes joined the Base Honor Guard in May 2005, and has advanced through the ranks to hold the position of Program Manager for the Base Honor Guard. Her superior leadership, extensive knowledge and expertise in honor guard protocol contributed to the effectiveness and success of the Base Honor Guard Program within the 166th Airlift Wing. Sgt. Ickes was an integral part of the creation of the Delaware Air National Guard Junior Enlisted Council and has been elected to the position of treasurer for the council. Sergeant Ickes is married and has two children.

These award winners and other Airmen will be recognized at the annual Delaware Air National Guard Enlisted Recognition Banquet to be held on Feb. 10, 2007, Saturday, at The Double Tree Hotel, 4727 Concord Pike (Rt. 202) in Wilmington, DE. Cocktails: 6:00 p.m., Dinner: 7:00 p.m.

Delaware Air National Guard State Command Chief Daniel Young said, "Our enlisted force has done an absolutely superlative job again in 2006. I extend my sincere congratulations to all of our great enlisted members." Speaking about the Airmen to be honored at the Feb. 10 banquet, Chief Young said, "The award recipients were selected from a group of highly talented, motivated and dedicated Airmen. These professionals are the kinds of role models that our citizens should be proud to know are on duty, serving as the backbone of the Delaware Air National Guard."

This release is in the public domain, and any part may be used as written.

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