CMSAF highlights contributions of 9 airmen - Air Force News | News from Afghanistan & Iraq - Air Force Times

CMSAF highlights contributions of 9 airmen

ATLANTA — Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James Roy makes a point in his speeches of calling attention to the good work of enlisted airmen.

In an interview with Air Force Times, Roy said he has met a few of the airmen and the others have been brought to his attention.

Earlier this year at the Air Force Association’s winter meeting, Roy told the stories of five airmen and their contributions to the war effort.

In his speech to the Air Force Sergeants Association here Aug. 17, the chief called attention to nine airmen and their readiness. He spoke briefly about a few of them:

Senior Airman Derek Baker

Missile handling team technician, Malmstrom Air Force Base, Mont.

Staff Sgt. Carey D. Burgess

Periodic maintenance team chief, F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyo. Roy told the audience that someone told him Burgess doesn’t deploy in his job. “Really?” Roy said. “He’s TDY well over 200 days a year. And his duty hours are 15 hours a day.”

Master Sgt. Brad Franken

C-130 loadmaster in the Air Force Reserve, Youngstown. Ohio. The C-130 that Franken flies on has been dropping oil dispersant over the Gulf of Mexico. “Are our airmen engaged? Absolutely everywhere.”

Tech. Sgt. Thomas Grantland

Aeromedical technician, deployed to Afghanistan.

Senior Airman Travis Bryant

Cable maintainer, Oklahoma Air National Guard, deployed to Afghanistan.

Tech. Sgt. Michael Roberts

Sensor management analyst, U.S. Strategic Command. “There are 20,000 objects floating [in space],” Roy said. “He makes sure satellites don’t run into junk.”

Senior Airmen Jason Henry

Aerial porter, deployed to Afghanistan. Henry is helping the Afghan Air Force build its air capacity, Roy said, tipping his hat to all the air advisers in the combat zone. “You have to have a lot of patience [for the job],” he said.

Tech. Sgt. Kimberly Grimsley

Contracting instructor supervisor, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. Grimsley has deployed four times, Roy told the crowd, noting that contracting is a stressed career field.

Senior Airman Abbey Korovich

Sensor operator for remotely piloted aircraft, Creech Air Force Base, Nev. Korovich has taken part in 230 combat missions and is responsible for taking out 21 Taliban. RPA sensor operators, Roy pointed out, were the Air Force Team of the Year.