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© 2013 KentuckyGuard
123rd Airlift Wing Public Affairs
Chief Master Sgt. Ray Dawson (right), command chief master sergeant of the Kentucky Air National Guard’s 123rd Airlift Wing, presents Master Sgt. Gregory Mattingly with a Kentucky Colonel certificate during the Kentucky National Guard Soldier and Airman of the Year Banquet, held March 22, 2014, in Louisville, Ky. Mattingly, of the 123rd Mission Support Group, is the Kentucky Air Guard’s 2014 First Sergeant of the Year. (U.S. Air National Guard photos by Staff Sgt. Vicky Spesard)
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The Kentucky Air National Guard honored its top first sergeant and Honor Guard Member of 2014 during a banquet held here Saturday night at the Kentucky Fair and Exposition Center.
Master Sgt. Gregory S. Mattingly of the 123rd Mission Support Group was recognized as the 2014 First Sergeant of the Year, while Master Sgt. Eric L. Hamilton was named Base Honor Guard Member of the Year.
Both Airmen are exceptional leaders who inspire others, according to their supervisors.
Mattingly provides guidance for 85 enlisted Airmen assigned to the 123rd Mission Support Group, the most diverse organization on base. An innovator who looks to inspire, he created the MSG “Diamond Sharp” coin to recognize Airmen who go above and beyond the call.
Mattingly also leads by example, serving as a motivating force during unit fitness tests, according to his commander, Lt. Col. Matt Stone.
Furthermore, the senior non-commissioned officer places a strong emphasis on morale and family readiness. He developed a Family Care Tracking Program for base first sergeants to ensure family members receive proper support, especially when their Airmen are deployed overseas. He personally contacted more than 50 deployed MSG Airmen to offer a broad range of support during their recent mobilizations.
Chief Master Sgt. Ray Dawson (right), command chief master sergeant of the Kentucky Air National Guard’s 123rd Airlift Wing, presents Master Sgt. Eric Hamilton with a Kentucky Colonel certificate during the Kentucky National Guard Soldier and Airman of the Year Banquet, held March 22, 2014, in Louisville, Ky. Hamilton, a management specialist in the 123rd Logistics Readiness Squadron, is the Kentucky Air Guard’s Honor Guard Member of the Year for 2014. (U.S. Air National Guard photos by Staff Sgt. Vicky Spesard)
Hamilton, a management specialist in the 123rd Logistics Readiness Squadron, participated in 157 Honor Guard and Color Guard events over the previous year, surpassing the team average of 34 events by a substantial margin, according to his commander, Lt. Col. Kevin Thornberry.
He was chosen by peers and leadership to serve as Base Honor Guard non-commissioned officer in charge, motivating a dedicated team to complete 259 total details in 2013. Hamilton’s commitment to the program is reflected in his desire to pursue all training opportunities. He currently is certified by the Air Force as an Honor Guard Trainer and subject matter expert who conducts training for all new and existing Honor Guard members to ensure consistency and adherence to protocol.
“As NCOIC of the Base Honor Guard Team, Sergeant Hamilton is a great mentor,” Thornberry said. “He’s constantly providing training and guidance to increase the team’s overall effectiveness and professionalism, which is on display all the time in the public community.”
By Senior Airman Vicky Spesard, 123rd Airlift Wing Public Affairs
Master Sgt. Kevin Roy has been named the Kentucky Air National Guard’s Outstanding First Sergeant of the Year for 2013. Roy is a member of the 123rd Security Forces Squadron. (Kentucky Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Phil Speck)
KENTUCKY AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Master Sgt. Kevin Roy of the 123rd Security Forces Squadron has been named the Kentucky Air National Guard’s Outstanding First Sergeant of the Year for 2013.
As first sergeant, Roy provides oversight and guidance to more than 85 Security Forces Airmen, assisting with any pay, personal and family issues that may arise. He has revamped the squadron’s Dependent-Care Program and operates a Family Liaison Program that facilitates regular interaction with the family members of deployed troops.
A full-time Louisville Metro Police officer, Roy joined the Guard in 1999 and has served as the squadron’s “first shirt” since March 2011. It’s a position he is well qualified for, according to Chief Master Sgt. Dan Radke, chief enlisted manager for the 123rd Security Forces Squadron.
“Part of his responsibilities include ensuring Airmen in the security forces are well trained and have all of the unit’s resources available to them,” Radke said. “Roy does more than that. He has an open door for these guys. He is a confidant, a mentor and professional colleague. He really strives to know each member of the squadron. They know that whatever issue they might be experiencing, their first sergeant is there to help.”
Roy also places a high level of emphasis on making sure his Airmen are properly trained.
“It is very important for them to stay current in their military education to be promotable to the higher enlisted levels,” said Roy, a certified Taser instructor and civilian Active Shooter Response Team member who is certified to conduct field sobriety tests and holds a bachelor’s degree in business management.
“I am also stressing to my Airmen the value of a good education, both within the military and law enforcement.”
Being a mentor and community leader outside the Air Guard is another priority for Roy, who encourages civic involvement among his Airmen. He is a volunteer with the Explorers Program and an instructor at Merit Badge University, which assists Boy Scouts in earning merit badges.
“I have to lead by example,” he said. “My father told me to surround myself with good people, and I encourage my Airmen to do the same thing. Get involved in the community; surround yourself with people who become a positive influence on you. That is my goal every day: to be a positive influence and good example to my guys.”
By Master Sgt. Philip Speck, 123rd Airlift Wing Public Affairs Office
Master Sgt. Collin King, 165th Airlift Squadron and Headquarters, 123rd Airlift Wing First Sergeant, has been selected as the Kentucky Air National Guard’s 2012 First Sergeant of the Year and will be honored May 19 in Louisville, Ky. at the Kentucky National Guard’s Outstanding Soldier and Airman of the Year Banquet. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Phil Speck)
KENTUCKY AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Master Sgt. Collin King has been selected as the Kentucky Air National Guard’s 2012 First Sergeant of the Year.
A traditional Guardsman who serves one weekend a month and at least two weeks of active duty per year, King balances his military obligations with a high-tempo career as a detective in the Louisville Metro Police Department. He’s currently a Task Force Officer working in concert with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency.
At the Air Guard, King serves as first sergeant for the 165th Airlift Squadron and Headquarters, 123rd Airlift Wing. He is responsible for the morale, welfare and conduct of his fellow enlisted members and advises the commander about enlisted-force issues.
It’s a job for which he is imminently suited, according to his supervisor, Lt. Col. Shawn Dawley.
“Master Sgt. King is a model traditional guardsman and senior NCO who epitomizes the Air Force Core Values of service, integrity and excellence,” said Dawley, commander of the 165th Airlift Squadron.
“He’s an invaluable friend whose motto is ‘You command, I’ll advise.’ His willingness to take on tough issues, whether they be personnel-related or administrative — and without being asked — is probably the greatest service he provides the unit. Often, he’ll come into the office to tell me, ‘This was the problem, these were suitable alternatives, this is what I chose, this is what happened; problem solved. Questions?’”
Master Sgt. Collin King, 165th Airlift Squadron and Headquarters, 123rd Airlift Wing First Sergeant, and Lt. Col. Shawn Dawley, commander of the 165th Airlift Squadron discuss unit concerns. King has been selected as the Kentucky Air National Guard’s 2012 First Sergeant of the Year and will be honored May 19 in Louisville, Ky. at the Kentucky National Guard’s Outstanding Soldier and Airman of the Year Banquet. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Phil Speck)
King joined the Kentucky Air Guard in 1999 as a Security Forces troop and deployed in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom in 2003. He later served as Squad Leader in the 123rd Contingency Response Group before being named first sergeant in 2008.
King was selected for 2012 First Sergeant of the Year because of his exceptional performance from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 2011. During that time, he was elected chairman of the 123rd Airlift Wing First Sergeants’ Council, created an enlisted mentoring program and conducted “town hall” meetings for the family members of Kentucky Air Guardsmen who were deployed overseas. He also coordinated the repair of maintenance issues at the homes of those family members and facilitated referrals to local assistance agencies as needed.
Following an appearance on the A&E Network Television series “First 48” that detailed his skill in solving a high-profile murder, King was chosen by wing staff to conduct interview training for investigators assigned to the base Flight Safety Board. He also leveraged his experience as a police officer by sharing with other Airmen what he learned about Post Traumatic Stress Disorder following his involvement in a duty-related fatal shooting. This directly assisted several unit members during a Wingman Day event focused on building resilience, officials noted.
“He was built for this job,” Dawley said of King. “Strong, humble, passionate, tough and caring.”
King will be honored May 19 during the Kentucky National Guard’s Outstanding Soldier and Airman of the Year Banquet, to be held in Louisville.
