AMC's 1999 Flying Instructor of the Year Awards
Flying Instructor Pilot of the Year: Capt. Erik A. Delgado, 99th Air Refueling Squadron, Robins Air Force Base, Ga. He personally designed a new process to upgrade new co-pilots to mission readiness status 45 days earlier than required by Air Force Instructions.
Flying Instructor Navigator of the Year: Capt. Steven L. Shinkel, 912th ARS, Grand Forks AFB, N.D. He provided key theater indoctrination training to deployed staff and aircrew during Operation Allied Force. His instructions to planners on theater-specific operations increased combat effectiveness, although they had not flown any previous missions in the area of responsibility.
Flying Instructor Flight Engineer of the Year: Tech. Sgt. David C. Barnes, 32nd ARS, McGuire AFB, N.J. He rewrote the student training guide on the KC-10 wing air refueling pod system and developed an enhanced flight engineer training syllabus.
Flying Instructor Loadmaster of the Year: Tech. Sgt. Stephen J. Tkach III, 7th Airlift Squadron, McChord AFB, Wash. He developed the C-17 loadmaster deep freeze certification guide and standardized all "ice" training for future operational missions to Antarctica in support of National Science Foundation research.
Flying Instructor Boom Operator of the Year: Tech. Sgt. Derek A. Cantre, 305th Operations Support Squadron, McGuire AFB, N.J. He gathered data to streamline implementation of new boom operator training guides - highlighted by Headquarters AMC as a command benchmark and improved student graduation timelines by 50 percent.
Flying Instructor Aeromedical Evacuation Technician of the Year: Staff Sgt. William J. Shestko Jr., 375th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron, Scott AFB, Ill. He was a stellar advanced cardiac life support instructor; one of only four enlisted personnel currently instructor certified; instructions greatly increased unit's ability to manage cardiac patients in the airborne environment.
Flying Instructor Flight Nurse of the Year: Capt. Joseph A. Marroquin, 375th AES, Scott AFB, Ill. A pivotal team player, his efforts to correct deficiencies in 73 training handouts assured an exceptional rating for the wing's 15 AF aircrew stan/eval visit.
Flying Instructor Flight Mechanic of the Year: Tech. Sgt. Dion P. Drechsel, 99th AS, Andrews AFB, Md. As the squadron weight and balance expert, he established "bullet-proof" procedures for updating and maintaining aircraft records; constant aircraft modification and configuration changes no longer impact mission.
Flying Instructor Flight Attendant of the Year: Staff Sgt. Kelly J. Wojtowicz, 99th AS, Andrews AFB, Md. She was personally recognized by Senator Shelby and his staff for her responsiveness and superb ability to adapt to short-notice mission changes, while providing real-world upgrade training to her students. She flew more than 140 sorties and accumulated 300 plus student training hours. (FROM AIR MOBILITY COMMAND PUBLIC AFFAIRS).
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