WASHINGTON –
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.