Hanscom NCO named one of ‘top 5 Airmen’

  • Published
  • By Mark Wyatt
  • 66th Air Base Group Public Affairs
HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. – A noncommissioned officer from the 66th Force Support Squadron here is one of the Air Force Association of Massachusetts’ “Top 5 Massachusetts Airmen.”

Staff Sgt. Alfredo Maldonado, 66 FSS Career Development NCO in charge, will receive his award during a ceremony Oct. 6 at Boston University.

“This is the fourth year that the Massachusetts Air Force Association has named their Top-5 Airmen, representing the very best Air Force performers from throughout the Commonwealth,” said Yvonne Thurston, AFA of Mass. president. “These dedicated Airmen do tremendous things for our total Air Force and highlight the mission significance of blue suiters in Massachusetts.”

The other awardees are four Airmen serving in the Mass. Air National Guard and Air Force Reserves at Westover Air Reserve Base in Chicopee, Mass.

The guest speaker for this year’s ceremony is Brig. Gen. Michael Schmidt, program executive officer for Command, Control, Communications, Intelligence and Networks at Hanscom Air Force Base.

Maldonado arrived at Hanscom in 2017.

“Sergeant Maldonado is an adept team member and customer focused,” said Tech. Sgt. Seth Graham, 66 FSS Military Personnel Flight NCO in charge, who nominated Maldonado. “He consistently accomplishes the mission with tremendous results.”

The award nomination highlights his performance on and off duty.

Among many on-the-job achievements noted in the nomination was his support to 25,000 active duty members and retirees.

Additionally, he led several “Informed Decision” briefings to help enlisted Airmen with career decisions. Maldonado also created a fact sheet for commanders and first sergeants to learn common errors during the reenlistment process.

“His efforts with the fact sheet cut overall process stagnation by 90 percent,” said Graham.

Hanscom’s representative is also active in the local community.

“Sergeant Maldonado led a Marine Corps Toys-for-Tots drive that delivered nearly 1,000 packages to a local orphanage,” said Graham. “He epitomizes the Air Force Core Value of service before self.”

Maldonado spoke about representing Hanscom during this year’s “Top 5 Massachusetts Airmen” Award dinner and his leadership nominating him.

“I am honored to have been nominated and selected for Hanscom Air Force Base,” he said. “It feels good when your leadership notices your hard work and recognizes you for it.”

To learn more about the event, including how to attend, contact Joe Bisognano at 978-727-2098.

Other Airmen selected are: Senior Master Sgt. Matthew Dauphinais, 439th Airlift Wing, Westover Air Reserve Base, Mass.; Tech. Sgt. Moses Ssemugenyi, 102nd Intelligence Wing, Otis Air National Guard Base, Mass.; Tech. Sgt. Dustin Spooner, 6th Space Warning Squadron, Cape Cod Air Station; and Senior Airman Christian Waterman, 104th Fighter Wing, Barnes Air National Guard Base, Mass.