A/TQ covers - Airlift/Tanker Association

The Airlift/Tanker Association Specialized Mission Award is presented annually to an outstanding
individual whose performance of duties in support of an aerial air mobility mission
is exceptionally noteworthy during crises, contingencies, or humanitarian airlift.
This award is presented to career fields not covered by
the Huyser Award categories.
Technical Sergeant Christopher Swan
Technical Sergeant Christopher Swan is an Aeromedical Evacuations
Technician assigned to 59th Surgical Inpatient Squadron Fort
Sam Houston, Texas. He has an Associate in Arts
Degree from Harper College and an Associate in
Applied Sciences from the Community College of
the Air Force.
In 2008, Swan attended the Aeromedical Evacuation
Technician course at Brooks City Base, Texas,
and was assigned to the 375th Aeromedical Evacuation
Squadron, Scott AFB, Ill. He has been in the
AE environment for four years now. As an AE technician,
Swan has served on multiple deployments
to Germany, Afghanistan, and Southwest Asia acting
as lead technician in charge of 15 flyers and 43
combat sorties.
During his last deployment from September
2011 to January 2012, he was forward deployed to
Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan. Immediately upon
his arrival he increased evacuations 20 percent.
“We were supporting Operation New Dawn,” he
said, “It was our job to evacuate the last of the patients from Iraq to
Bagram.”
He evacuated more than 122 service members in need of critical
care and on one mission; he recognized an in-flight emergency and
his action saved six lives. While downrange, Swan and his team oriented
six new personnel during an 80 percent squadron manning
shortage. He also edited the Readiness Skills Verification
Program, which enhanced realistic training
for 76 clinical personnel. In addition, Swan helped
set up a Combat Search and Rescue training program
and trained four, three-man Critical Air Support
Transport Teams.
While at home station, Swan stepped up to be
flight chief where he was in charge of maintaining
the AE program equipment and supervising six
junior NCOs while mentoring three officers. He
revitalized the Emergency Management Training
Program and instituted a continuing education
tracker for 44 AETs, which directly contributed
to the squadron’s Health Service Inspection Outstanding
rating. He also coordinated EMT re-certifications
for 12 932nd AES personnel, fortifying
active duty and reserve AE relationship.
His achievements include earning the Air
Force Commendation Medal, the Air Force Achievement Medal,
the Meritorious Unit Award with one cluster, the Outstanding
Unit Award with three clusters, the Iraq Campaign Medal, and
the Afghanistan Campaign Medal.
“…any citizen should be willing to give all that he has to give his
country in work or sacrifice in times of crises.”
–Eleanor Roosevelt
A/TQ • Airlift/Tanker Quarterly • Fall 2012
47