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NEWS | Dec. 8, 2019

Ceremony honors District of Columbia National Guard award winners

District of Columbia National Guard Public Affairs

The District of Columbia National Guard recognized excellence during its annual awards and decorations ceremony today at the D.C. National Guard Armory.

The ceremony’s theme is “Once a Capital Guardian, Always a Capital Guardian” and included a joint color guard, ceremonial marching elements from the D.C. Army and Air National Guard as well as performances by the 257th Army Band. The ceremony recognized unit-level and individual award winners from both the District of Columbia Army and Air National Guard.

Maj. Gen. William J. Walker, DCNG Commanding General, provided the opening remarks for the ceremony.

“Established by President Thomas Jefferson in 1802, the District of Columbia National Guard has a distinguished and decorated history,” he said. “Today, we honor the accomplishments achieved throughout the year, and let me tell you, your Capital Guardians deployed worldwide and helped make this world a better place.

Members of the DCNG, known as the Capital Guardians, supported worldwide deployments to countries including Afghanistan, Korea, Qatar, and Poland.

2019 marked significant military engagements for the DCNG, including the first-ever U.S. Air Force F-16 support to Philippine Air Forces flown by members of the District of Columbia Air National Guard’s 113th Wing. More than 250 District of Columbia Air National Guard Airmen successfully deployed to the Indo-Pacific region in support of a theater security package designed to ensure warfighter capability and foster partnerships in the area. Pilots, maintenance and operations personnel worked around the clock flying missions 60 miles south of potential threat areas like North Korea.

The DCNG expanded its State Partnership Program and welcomed Burkina Faso as the 76th nation to join the National Guard Bureau’s program. In one of the first engagements with our new Burkina Faso state partners, the 257th Army Band deployed to Burkina Faso and helped build musical relationships with the National Armed Forces of Burkina Faso’s military band.

DCNG Awards and Decorations Ceremony award winners

MAJOR GENERAL CALVIN G. FRANKLIN LEADERSHIP AWARD (ARMY)

Maj. Keith S. Horyczun

MAJOR GENERAL CALVIN G. FRANKLIN LEADERSHIP AWARD (AIR)

Maj. Amanda Mason

MAJOR GENERAL CHARLES L. SOUTHWARD LEADERSHIP AWARD (ARMY)

Capt. Shannon D. Bass

MAJOR GENERAL CHARLES L. SOUTHWARD LEADERSHIP AWARD (AIR)

Capt. Vincent Franchino

COMPANY GRADE WARRANT OFFICER AWARD (WO1-CW2)

Chief Warrant Officer 2 Justin F. Wanat

FIELD GRADE WARRANT OFFICER (CW3-CW4)

Chief Warrant Officer Charles J. Whitney

J.LEO LYNCH OUTSTANDING SOLDIER AWARD (FIRST SERGEANT AWARD) (ARMY)

First Sgt. Clifford M. Thompson

J.LEO LYNCH OUTSTANDING AIRMAN AWARD (FIRST SERGEANT AWARD) (AIR)

Master Sgt. Nathan C. Fair

SFC ROBIN L. TOWNS SENIOR NCO OF THE YEAR (ARMY)

Sgt. 1st Class Korey T. Simmons

DCNG SENIOR NCO OF THE YEAR (AIR)

Master Sgt. Andy R. Wolfe

DCNG NCO OF THE YEAR (ARMY)

Sgt. Timothy Robinson

DCNG NCO OF THE YEAR (AIR)

Tech. Sgt. Peter N. Nketia-Akonnor

SPC DARRYL T. DENT SOLDIER OF THE YEAR (ARMY)

Spc. Arlene Gudiel

DCNG OUTSTANDING AIRMAN OF THE YEAR (AIR)

Staff Sgt. Jacen J. Vaughn

TUSKEGEE AIRMAN AWARD (AIR)

Airman 1st Class Jimmy D. Pearce

CMSGT JAMES P. HARRIS AWARD (AIR)

Tech. Sgt. Steven L. Morgan

DCARNG FY19 BEST WARRIOR (NCO)

Sgt. David A. Perry

DCARNG FY19 Best Warrior (Soldier)

Spc. Emmil K. Akwei

MILITARY VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR AWARD (ARMY)

Spc. Michelle DeLaPena

MILITARY VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR  AWARD (AIR)

Staff Sgt. Erica E. Gonzalez

DCNG MILITARY FAMILY OF THE YEAR (ARMY)

Lt. Col. Kelvin E. Hart

DCNG MILITARY FAMILY OF THE YEAR (AIR)

Senior Master Sgt. Yolanda M. Spikes

DCNG CIVILIAN VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR (ARMY)

Veronica Gerald

DCNG CIVILIAN EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR AWARD (AIR)/(Army)

Mr. Kenneth L. Williams/ Ms. Cortavia Britton

MRS. ANNE SHRINER R. WHERLEY YOUTH LEADERSHIP AWARD (Civilian Youth)

Miss Angelina Nketia-Akonnor

DCNG YOUTH CHALLENGE CADET OF THE CYCLE (Youth Challenge Program)

Class 51: Cadet Jones, Jordan

Class 52: Cadet Morales, Luis

DCNG HERO RECOGNITION

Staff Sgt. Christian R. Flores

BRIGADIER GENERAL WILLIAM R. MCCALL FLYING SAFETY AWARD (AIR)

Master Sgt. Ryonn D. Taylor

BRIGADIER GENERAL WILLIAM R. MCCALL FLYING SAFETY AWARD (ARMY)

Detachment 1, Company G, 3-126th General Support Aviation Battalion Detachment 1

HOWARD W. KACY FLYING SAFETY AWARD (ARMY)

Capt. Michael Taylor & Chief Warrant Officer 3 Bryan Caudle

HOWARD W. KACY FLYING SAFETY AWARD (AIR)

Capt. Steven R. Brown

BRIGADIER GENERAL PAUL A. POCHMARA AWARD (AIR)

113th Civil Engineering Squadron

COLONEL LOUIS R. WILLIAMS OUTSTANDING PERSONNEL AWARD (ARMY)

Staff Sgt. Rocio J. Reynosoportal

COLONEL LOUIS R. WILLIAMS OUTSTANDING PERSONNEL AWARD AIR)

Senior Master Sgt. Nancy R. Reyes

MISSION SUPPORT GROUP SUPERIOR SERVICE AWARD (AIR)

Staff Sgt. Leo Bowman, Staff Sgt. Juan Rosado-Marin, Tech. Sgt. Megan Wulf

DOMESTIC OPERATIONS AWARD (ARMY)

Col. Scott R. Craig

DOMESTIC OPERATIONS AWARD (AIR)

1st Lt. Brian A Sanks, Jr.

COLONEL ROBERT I. FLEMING AWARD (ARMY)

260th Regional Training Institute

MASTER SERGEANT ADOLPH R. SCAGLIARINI OUTSTANDING BAND MEMBER AWARD (ARMY)

Spc. Robert Cooper

JOSEPH GOLDSTEIN AERIAL GUNNERY AWARD (AIR)

Capt. Jonathan R. Morgan

PHILLIP M. TALBOT TROPHY (ARMY)

260th Regional Training Institute

HONOR GUARD MEMBER OF THE YEAR AWARD (ARMY)

Spc. Stanford M. Torran IV

HONOR GUARD MEMBER OF THE YEAR AWARD (AIR)

Senior Airman Jeremmy M. Salazar

MS. PATRICIA A. MARSHALL AWARD

273rd Military Police Company

COMMANDING GENERALS OUTSTANDING UNIT AWARD

260th Regional Training Institute

ESGR Pro Patria Award

Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority

RECRUITING AND RETENTION NCO OF THE YEAR (Army & Air)

Staff Sgt. Arielle Acosta/TSgt Marissa Graham

Based in the heart of the District, the District of Columbia National Guard is poised and prepared to rapidly deploy where directed, and confidently execute the orders of the President of the United States, the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of the Army and the Secretary of the Air Force in times of peace and war.

The nation’s Capital Guardians are a highly disciplined, motivated and focused professional force that is well led and optimally manned, trained and equipped to meet the expectations of the Department of Defense, our federal and District of Columbia government partners, and the needs of our fellow citizens.

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