Air Force Medical Service announces 2025 Award Winners Published March 17, 2026 Air Force Surgeon General Public Affairs FALLS CHURCH, Va. -- The Air Force Surgeon General is proud to announce the recipients of the 2025 Air Force Medical Service Annual Awards. The awards include both individual and team awards. The nominations submitted reflect the extraordinary quality of Air Force medics. The accomplishments of those recognized demonstrate expertise, leadership, and commitment across the full breadth of the mission support we provide to the Air Force and Space Force. We should also acknowledge the hard work and support of Wingmen, fellow medical professionals, at every level, who enabled success. Please join us in congratulating all award recipients - they represent the many outstanding Air Force medical professionals emulating the AFMS mission: “To deliver Trusted Care…anytime, anywhere.” Individual Awards: USAF Health Care Administrator of the Year - Company Grade Category Capt Ria Grace A. Gozon-Marquez 86 MDG, Ramstein AB, Germany, USAFE-AFAF USAF Medical Service Corps Commitment to Service Award Lt Col Justin L. Wolthuizen HQ AFPC/DPMND, JBSA-Randolph, TX, AFPC USAF Medical Service Corps Civilian of the Year Ms. Shanelle K. Malnar USAFE/SGX, Ramstein AB, Germany, USAFE-AFAF USAF Biomedical Clinician of the Year - Company Grade Category Maj Matthew J. Mazick 82 OMRS/SGXH, Sheppard AFB, TX, AETC USAF Biomedical Clinician of the Year - Field Grade Category Maj Brandon O. Wielert 382 TRS/TXXY, JBSA-Fort Sam Houston, TX, AETC USAF Biomedical Specialist of the Year - Company Grade Category Capt Tristan P. Eddy 42 HCOS/SGGD, Maxwell AFB, AL, AETC USAF Biomedical Specialist of the Year - Field Grade Category Lt Col William C. Matthews 75 OMRS/SGXB, Hill AFB, UT, AFMC USAF Biomedical Clinician Civilian of the Year Ms. Amy L. Schrupp 28 OMRS/SGXD, Ellsworth AFB, SD, AFGSC USAF Biomedical Specialist Civilian of the Year Dr. Denise L. Kramer 711 HPW/USAFSAM, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH, AFMC USAF Biomedical Sciences Corps Educator of the Year Capt Leigh M. Durden 711 HPW/USAFSAM, Wright -Patterson AFB, OH, AFMC USAF Clinical Dentist of the Year Capt Anna M. Captain 20 MDG/SGXD, Shaw, AFB, SC, ACC USAF Dental Educator of the Year Lt Col Jared D. Mason Lackland Dental Training Sq, JBSA-Lackland, TX, AETC USAF Health Services Management Airman of the Year SrA Herold Orphee 673 MDSS/SGSM, JB Elmendorf-Richardson, AK, PACAF USAF Health Services Management NCO of the Year SSgt Jeremy P. Shires 937 Training Support Sq, JBSA-Fort Sam Houston, TX, AETC USAF Medical Materiel Airman of the Year A1C Za’Nyla A. Robinson 45 HCOS/SGSM, Patrick SFB, FL, AFMC USAF Medical Materiel NCO of the Year TSgt Jem V. Thipphakesone 48 MDSS/SGSM, RAF Lakenheath, USAFE-AFAF USAF Biomedical Equipment Technician Airman of the Year SrA Tytus A. Yarbrough 673 MDSS/SGSM, JB Elmendorf-Richardson, AK, PACAF USAF Biomedical Equipment Technician NCO of the Year TSgt Gabriel Ayala-Martinez AFSOC-GSU, Pope AAF, NC, AFSOC USAF Base Bioenvironmental Engineering Airman of the Year SrA Bamowo O. Okunowo 1 SOMDG, Hurlburt Field, FL, AFSOC USAF Base Bioenvironmental Engineering NCO of the Year SSgt Nicholas S. Thornton 55 OMRS/SGXB, Offutt AFB, NE, ACC USAF Mental Health Airman of the Year SrA Benito Sanchez De La Rosa 81 OMRS/SGPW, Keesler AFB, MS, AETC USAF Mental Health NCO of the Year TSgt Randi L. Sologaistoa Lackland Trainee Health Sq, JBSA-Lackland, TX, AETC USAF Diet Therapy Airman of the Year A1C AriOnna M. Lowe 88 DTS/SGQD, Wright Patterson AFB, OH, AFMC USAF Diet Therapy NCO of the Year TSgt Latrice D. Boyd 88 DTS/SGQD, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH, AFMC USAF Public Health Airman of the Year SrA Sandra Velasquez Castro 377 OMRS/SGXM, Kirtland AFB, NM, AFGSC USAF Public Health NCO of the Year TSgt Milyka L. Moses 633 OMRS/SGXS, JB Langley-Eustis, VA, ACC USAF Respiratory Care Practitioner Airman of the Year SrA Saleema Bano FSH MDOS/SG05L, JBSA-Fort Sam Houston, TX, AETC USAF Respiratory Care Practitioner NCO of the Year TSgt Derrick Pitchford 60 HCOS/SGGH, Travis AFB, CA, AMC USAF Physical Medicine Airman of the Year SrA DeVante J. King 375 OMRS/SGXY, Scott AFB, IL, AMC USAF Physical Medicine NCO of the Year TSgt Ryan A. Thomas 82 OMRS/SGXH, Sheppard AFB, TX, AETC USAF Aerospace Medicine Airman of the Year SrA Deangelo Reinoso-Bunch 377 OMRS/SGXF, Kirtland AFB, NM, AFGSC USAF Aerospace Medicine NCO of the Year TSgt David Dejarnette 36 MDG/SGGE, Anderson AFB, Guam, PACAF USAF Surgical Service Airman of the Year SrA Vincent C. Grant II 673 SGCS/SGCS, JB Elmendorf-Richardson, AK, PACAF USAF Surgical Service NCO of the Year TSgt Michael P. Hansen FSH SGCS/SGCO, JBSA-Fort Sam Houston, TX, AETC USAF Pharmacy Technician Airman of the Year SrA Briana L. Rubio 375 MDSS/SGSD, Scott AFB, IL, AMC USAF Pharmacy Technician NCO of the Year TSgt Scott J. Wadsworth 60 MDTS/SGQP, Travis AFB, CA, AMC USAF Diagnostic Imaging Airman of the Year SrA Amber K. Lynn 60 MDTS/SGQQ, Travis AFB, CA, AMC USAF Diagnostic Imaging NCO of the Year TSgt Joshua R. Fleek 86 MDG, Ramstein AB, Germany, USAFE-AFAF USAF Laboratory Airman of the Year SrA Jacob J. Ramirez 48 MDSS/SGSL, RAF Lakenheath, UK, USAFE-AFAF USAF Laboratory NCO of the Year TSgt Noah D. Sermon 86 MDG, Ramstein AB, Germany, USAFE-AFAF USAF Ophthalmic Airman of the Year SrA Felicia M. Sanchez 52 OMRS/SGXH, Spangdahlem AB, UK, USAFE-AFAF USAF Ophthalmic NCO of the Year TSgt Simon L. Arnold 10 SGCS/SGCO, US Air Force Academy, CO, USAFA USAF Dental Airman of the Year SrA Madison N. Bentle Bolling MDS, JB Anacostia-Bolling, DC, AFDW USAF Dental NCO of the Year TSgt Hamila H. Burton 412 OMRS/SGXD, Edwards AFB, CA, AFMC USAF SNCO Operational Medicine Excellence Award SMSgt Matthew R. Walsh HAF/SG3, Falls Church, VA, HAF USAF SNCO Organizational Management Excellence Award MSgt Emilio J. Martinez 8 OMRS/SGXP, Kunsan AB, PACAF USAF SNCO Clinical Support Excellence Award MSgt Nance F. Pea 382 TRS/TXXYAG, JBSA-Fort Sam Houston, TX, AETC USAF Medical Service SNCO Leadership Award MSgt Monica E. Hipsher 509 MDG/CCC, Whiteman AFB, MO, AFGSC USAF Company Grade Physician of the Year Capt Erin K. O’Pry 49 HCOS/SGGP, Holloman AFB, NM, AETC USAF Field Grade Physician of the Year Maj Maggie C. Wertz 480 ISRW/SG, Langley AFB, VA, ACC USAF Chief of Aerospace Medicine of the Year Award Lt Col Ashley N. Franz 354 MDG/SGP, Eielson AFB, AK, PACAF USAF Chief of the Medical Staff of the Year Lt Col Julie A. Griffith 20 MDG/SGH, Shaw AFB, SC, ACC USAF Academic Physician of the Year Award Lt Col Matthew K. Hawks Andrews HCOS/SGGF, JB Andrews, MD, AFDW USAF Clinical Excellence in Nursing Award – Company Grade Nurse of the Year Capt MiaLisa G. Mossay 72 HCOS/SGGP, Tinker AFB, OK, AFMC USAF Clinical Excellence in Nursing Award – Field Grade Nurse of the Year Maj Nicole Grow 48 SGCS/SGCM, RAF Lakenheath, UK, USAFE-AFAF USAF Privileged Advanced Practice Nurse of the Year – Company Grade Category Capt Brittany King 18 OMRS/SGXP, Kadena AB, Japan, PACAF USAF Privileged Advanced Practice Nurse of the Year – Field Grade Category Maj Naomi C. Torrance 20 MDG/SGGP, Shaw AFB, SC, ACC USAF Civilian Nurse of the Year Ms. Deedra Nelson 75 OMRS/SGXW, Hill AFB, UT, AFMC USAF Outstanding Excellence in Nursing Leadership Award Lt Col Jennifer L. Varney 22 HCOS/CC, McConnel AFB, KS, AMC USAF Outstanding Achievement in Nursing Force Development Award Maj Savannah A. Jumpp 86 MDG, Ramstein AB, Germany, USAFE-AFAF USAF Nursing Educator of the Year Maj Christy Anne R. Mitchell USUHS, Bethesda, MD, AFELM MED DOD USAF Medical Service Civilian Performance Excellence Award Ms. Latemia Thomas LAK MDOS/SGOF, JBSA-Lackland, TX, AETC USAF Medical Service Civilian Organizational Leadership Award Ms. Faith R. Yingling USAFSAM/FEB, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH, AFMC USAF Medical Service Civilian Enterprise Leadership Excellence Award Ms. Kimberly Hartmann AFMEDCOM/A4/10M, Fort Detrick, MD, AFMEDCOM USAF Outstanding Achievement in Operational Research Award Maj Anna R. Prendergast 99 MDG/SGEO, Nellis AFB, NV, ACC USAF Outstanding Personnel Reliability Assurance Program Competent Medical Authority (CMA) of the Year Maj Christy-Lynne M. McGinnis HQ AFPC/DPMON, JBSA-Randolph, AFPC USAF Outstanding Personnel Reliability Assurance Program MTF Monitor/Technician of the Year SSgt Alyssa N. McDermott 52 OMRS/SGXF, Spangdahlem AB, Germany, USAFE-AFAF Team Awards: USAF Medical Logistics Team of the Year 48 MDSS/SGSM, RAF Lakenheath, UK, USAFE-AFAF USAF Resource Management Team of the Year 45 MDG/SGGR, Patrick SFB, FL, AFMC USAF Medical Information Services Team of the Year 35 MDSS/SGST, Misawa AB, Japan, PACAF USAF Health Plan Management Team of the Year 8 HCOS/SGGT, Kunsan AB, ROK, PACAF USAF Medical Readiness Team of the Year USAFE/SGX, Ramstein AB, Germany, USAFE-AFAF USAF Medical Service Corps Team of the Year 96 MDG/SGA, Eglin AFB, FL, AFMC USAF Biomedical Sciences Corps Team of the Year 75 OMRS/SGXB, Hill AFB, UT, AFMC USAF Small Dental Clinic of the Year 8 OMRS/SGXD, Kunsan AB, ROK, PACAF USAF Medium Dental Clinic of the Year 56 MDG/SGXD, Luke AFB, AZ, AETC USAF Large Dental Clinic of the Year 18 DS/SGD, Kadena AB, Japan, PACAF USAF Outstanding Personnel Reliability Assurance Program Team of the Year 509 OMRS/SGXF, Whiteman AFB, MO, AFGSC USAF Outstanding Operational Team of the Year 36 MDG/SGGM, Andersen AFB, Guam, PACAF USAF Best AE Squadron Patient Safety Program 86 Aeromedical Evacuation Sq/AECM, Ramstein AB, Germany, USAFE-AFAF USAF Surgeon General Hospital of the Year 99 MDG, Nellis AFB, NV, ACC USAF Surgeon General Clinic of the Year 51 MDG, Osan AB, ROK, PACAF USAF International Health Operations Team Excellence HQ PACAF/SGX, JB Pearl Harbor-Hickam, HI, PACAF