AMC sergeant named one of Air Force's 12 Outstanding Airmen
Senior Master Sgt. Michael David, superintendent of the 437th Communications Squadron Mission Systems Flight, was notified of his accomplished in the form of a four-star phone call. The "outstanding Airman" received the call July 2 from Gen. John W. Handy, commander of U.S. Transportation Command and Air Mobility Command.
"It's not every day the general calls you at your house; it's not something you expect," said Sergeant David. "I was shocked when he told me I was chosen (as one of the Air Force's Outstanding Airmen of the Year)."
Sergeant David, who was the only AMC Airman selected as a finalist for the Air Force-level competition, will be formally recognized for his selection during the Air and Space Conference and Technology Exposition in September, and will serve as a member of the Air Force Association's Enlisted Advisory Council from September 2004 through the following year.
In Sergeant David's award nomination, 437th CS Commander Lt. Col. John Keffer said Sergeant David was the "thrust" behind the success of a $9 million base infrastructure installation at Charleston, which included 54 miles of fiber optic cable and 1,500 pair of copper. The colonel said the installation integrated 131 buildings, cutting base-wide outages from 60 to 20 per year and creating a system uptime of 99.8 percent.
Colonel Keffer said Sergeant David also led the deployment of a mobile microwave landing system to Southwest Asia. According to colonel, the airfield control equipment was 100 percent operational upon initial installation in an austere location, and was vital to the success of cargo and troop support for Operation Iraqi Freedom.
"He's very dedicated to his work and he takes care of his people," added Master Sgt. Cecil Wilson, chief of maintenance support and a coworker of Sergeant David's.
Nominees are also judged on their off-duty performance, and area in which Sergeant David also excels.
The sergeant organized a "Day of Caring" event Sept. 11, leading 18 volunteers to aid the Dorchester Board of Disabilities and Special Needs. The project ensured 500 people with special needs received unique care and enabled in-home care giving. He is also the senior noncommissioned officer Honor Guard team leader and a soccer coach for a local youth team.
"The great thing is he didn't try to make this happen, he was just being Sergeant David. Just because of who he is, he got it," said Capt. Christopher Shields, who has been Sergeant David's supervisor for nearly a year.
"As an Airman, a friend and a human being, he's tops," added the captain. "He truly deserves this award."
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