2023 Wing Conference Award Winners

The following 2023 Missouri Wing award winners were announced during the recent Missouri Wing Conference, held at the Lodge of the Four Seasons in Lake Ozark, MO, March 24-26, 2023. Congratulations to all winners!

Specific individual award winners included:

• Commander’s Commendation Award: C/SSgt. Nathaniel Harris, Trail of Tears Composite Flight, in recognition of his service as project lead for his flight’s CAP High-Altitude Balloon Challenge experiment project.
• Region Commander’s Commendation Award: 2d Lt. April Deal, Table Rock Lake Composite Squadron, in recognition of her support of the Mid-Atlantic Region Honor Guard Academy.
• Meritorious Service Award: Capt. Victoria Van Horn, Lee’s Summit Composite Squadron, in recognition of her service to Missouri Wing as Director of Personnel.
• Meritorious Service Award: Lt. Col. Michael Toedebusch, Missouri Wing Headquarters, in recognition of his service to Missouri Wing as Director of Cadet Programs and Chief of Staff – Missions.
• Meritorious Service Award: Lt. Col. Jennifer Smith Missouri Wing Headquarters in recognition of her service to Missouri Wing as Chief of Staff – Missions and Vice Commander.
• Distinguished Service Award: Col. Thomas Martin, Missouri Wing Headquarters in recognition of his service as Missouri Wing Commander.
• Region Commander’s Commendation, Life Saving Award, Disaster Relief Ribbon, and Find Ribbon: Lt. Col. Brian Jones, Col Travis Hoover Composite Squadron, Capt. Kevin Huckaby, Kansas City – Charles R. Long Senior Squadron; 1st Lt. Dale Coffey, Col Travis Hoover Composite Squadron; 1st Lt. Clayton Woodbridge, Col Travis Hoover Composite Squadron; and 2d Lt. Benjamin Creen, Gateway Senior Squadron; members of Missouri Wing’s sUAS Team, in recognition of their service during Hurricanes Fiona and Ian resulting in the saving of a life.
• Amelia Earhart Award and Promotion to Cadet Captain: C/Capt. Isaac Olivea, Springfield Regional Composite Squadron.
• General Carl A. Spaatz Award and Promotion to Cadet Colonel: C/Col. Collin Mitchell, Wentzville Composite Squadron.
• Benjamin O. Davis Award and completion of CAP Senior Member Professional Development Level 2 training: Capt. Quinn Evans, Missouri Wing Headquarters.
• Gill Robb Wilson Award and completion of CAP Senior Member Professional Development Level 5 training: Lt. Col. Adam Daubach, Wentzville Composite Squadron, and Lt. Col. Bobby Redfield, Table Rock Lake Composite Squadron.
• Aerospace Education Teacher of the Year: Ms. Montye Mickelson.
• Cadet Endowment Fund Scholarship Awardees: C/CMSgt. Layla Cranston, Lee’s Summit Composite Squadron, and C/Col. Reagan Hess, Wentzville Composite Squadron.

Annual Missouri Wing unit award winners included:

• Unit with the Best Social Media Program for the Year: Trail of Tears Composite Flight.
• Unit with the Best Website for the Year: Lee’s Summit Composite Squadron.
• Unit with the Best Newsletter for the Year: Lake Ozark Regional Composite Squadron.
• Aerospace Activity of the Year: Joint award to Harry S. Truman Composite Squadron, Lake Ozark Regional Composite Squadron, and Sedalia Cadet Flight; combined glider orientation flight day.
• 2022 Quality Cadet Unit Award: Harry S. Truman Composite Squadron, Lake Ozark Regional Composite Squadron, Lee’s Summit Composite Squadron, Platte Valley Composite Squadron, and Table Rock Lake Composite Squadron.
• Cadet Program of the Year: Lee’s Summit Composite Squadron.
• Senior Program of the Year: Gateway Senior Squadron.
• Squadron of Merit Award: Lee’s Summit Composite Squadron.
• Squadron of the Year: Springfield Regional Composite Squadron.

Annual Missouri Wing individual award winners included:

• Col. Edwin W. Lewis Jr. Incident Staff Member of the Year: Lt. Col. William DiMarsico, Group III Headquarters.
• Incident Commander of the Year: Capt. Sampath Samarasinghe, Harry S. Truman Composite Squadron.
• Col. Dion E. DeCamp Ground Team of the Year: Table Rock Lake Composite Squadron.
• Safety Officer of the Year: Maj. Stephen Kelly, Gateway Senior Squadron.
• Professional Development (Education & Training) Officer of the Year: Capt. Jessica Rice, Lee’s Summit Composite Squadron.
• Communications Officer of the Year: Lt. Col. William DiMarsico, Group III Headquarters.
• Character Development Instructor of the Year: 2d Lt. Donald Weeks, Table Rock Lake Composite Squadron.
• Chaplain of the Year: Chaplain (Capt.) Guillaume Williams, Lake Ozark Regional Composite Squadron.
• Finance Officer of the Year: Maj. David Van Horn, Lee’s Summit Composite Squadron.
• Historian of the Year: Maj. Nelson Colon-Acevedo, Ft. Leonard Wood Composite Squadron.
• Health Services Officer of the Year: 1st Lt. Elizabeth Hamilton, Springfield Regional Composite Squadron.
• Personnel Officer of the Year: 2d Lt. Theresa Hess, Wentzville Composite Squadron.
• Public Affairs Officer of the Year: 2d Lt. Tricia Seelbach, Lake Ozark Regional Composite Squadron.
• Transportation Officer of the Year: 2d Lt. Joshua Douglas, Sedalia Cadet Flight.
• Aircraft Maintenance Officer of the Year: 1st Lt. Bryan McDonald, Gateway Senior Squadron.
• Orientation Pilot of the Year (Powered): Capt. Jason Taylor, Springfield Regional Composite Squadron.
• Orientation Pilot of the Year (Glider): 2d Lt. Michael Haynes, Harry S. Truman Composite Squadron.
• Inspector General of the Year: Lt. Col. Jered Horn, Col Travis Hoover Composite Squadron.
• George Texido Legislative Officer of the Year: Lt. Col. John Burrows, Missouri Wing Headquarters.
• Frank G. Brewer Memorial Aerospace Award – Cadet Category: C/1st Lt. Andrew Douglas, Sedalia Cadet Flight.
• Frank G. Brewer Memorial Aerospace Award – Senior Category: Capt. Liz Johnson, Missouri Wing Headquarters.
• Frank G. Brewer Memorial Aerospace Award – Individual/Organization Category: Maj. Gen. Kenneth Eaves, Air National Guard Advisor to the Commander, Air Force Global Strike Command; former Assistant Missouri National Guard Adjutant General and commander of the Missouri Air National Guard.
• John V. “Jack” Sorenson Cadet Programs Officer of the Year: 1st Lt. Christopher Mix, Col Travis Hoover Composite Squadron.
• Cadet NCO of the Year: C/CMSgt. Larissa Ragain, Trail of Tears Composite Squadron.
• Cadet Junior Officer of the Year: C/2d Lt. Brody Ryan, Harry S. Truman Composite Squadron.
• Squadron Commander of the Year: Lt. Col. Keith Monteith, Gateway Senior Squadron.
• Torch Award: 1st Lt. Christopher Richardson, Springfield Regional Composite Squadron.
• Cadet of the Year: C/Capt. Abigail Bradshaw, Springfield Regional Composite Squadron.
• Senior Member of the Year: 2d Lt. Theresa Hess, Wentzville Composite Squadron.
• Lt. Col. John Otradovec Lifetime Achievement Award: Maj. Jack Gray, Gateway Senior Squadron.

North Central Region individual award winners included:

• Col. Edwin W. Lewis Jr. Incident Staff Member of the Year: Lt. Col. William DiMarsico, Group III Headquarters.
• Safety Officer of the Year: Maj. Stephen Kelly, Gateway Senior Squadron.
• Professional Development (Education & Training) Officer of the Year: Capt. Jessica Rice, Lee’s Summit Composite Squadron.
• Inspector General of the Year: Lt. Col. Jered Horn, Col Travis Hoover Composite Squadron.
• George Texido Legislative Officer of the Year: Lt. Col. John Burrows, Missouri Wing Headquarters.
• Frank G. Brewer Memorial Aerospace Award – Cadet Category: C/1st Lt. Andrew Douglas, Sedalia Cadet Flight.
• Frank G. Brewer Memorial Aerospace Award – Senior Category: Capt. Liz Johnson, Missouri Wing Headquarters.
• Frank G. Brewer Memorial Aerospace Award – Individual/Organization Category: Maj. Gen. Kenneth Eaves, Air National Guard Advisor to the Commander, Air Force Global Strike Command; former Assistant Missouri National Guard Adjutant General and commander of the Missouri Air National Guard.
• Cadet NCO of the Year: C/CMSgt. Larissa Ragain, Trail of Tears Composite Squadron.