1) ATQ Fall 2003 for pdf - Airlift/Tanker Association

The Airlift/Tanker Association General Robert E. “Dutch” Huyser Awards are
presented annually to a wing or group level or below , pilot, navigator,
flight engineer, loadmaster and boom operator who have displayed outstanding
proficiency and performance of flight duties, significant accomplishments,
adaptability to unusual job assignments or difficult circumstance;
acceptance of responsibility; and, self-improvement efforts.
2003 A/TA HUYSER AWARDS
PILOT
Major Alexander W. Walford
Major Alexander W. Walford, currently
serving as the 37AS Readiness Flight
Commander, Ramstein AB Germany, is a C-
130 AWADS Evaluator Pilot with over 2400
flight hours.
Maj. Walford entered
the Air Force in May
1992, following his
graduation from Texas
A&M University in
1991 with a B.S. in
Ocean Engineering.
Maj. Walford attended
undergraduate pilot
training at Del Rio,
Texas, logging over 200 hours in the T-37 and
T-38. Following graduation from pilot training
he served as a B-2 Lead Flight Test Engineer
from May 1992 to September 1996, conducted
the first and most extensive radar cross section
reduction testing and low observable testing on
B-2 while logging over 400 hours in F-16B/D
and T-38 chase aircraft.
After completing C-130 initial qualification
at Little Rock AFB, AR, Maj. Walford was
stationed at Dyess AFB from October 1996 to
July 2001, during which time he participated
in Operations JOINT ENDEAVOR, JOINT
FORGE, JOINT GUARDIAN, SOUTHERN
WATCH and CORONET OAK.
Enroute to his current assignment, Maj.
Walford attended the US Air Force Weapons
School in July 2001, where he was lauded
Air Force wide for “Best Research Paper.”
He is actively involved with DoD Schools,
mentoring high school seniors and is a
member of the Texas A&M Associates of
Former Students, Ramstein Chapter. He has
been involved with fund raising efforts to
provide scholarships for deserving students.
Maj. Walford’s military decorations include
the Air Medal, Aerial Achievement Medal, Air
Force Achievement Medal, Commendation
Medal and the Humanitarian Service Medal.
He was named “Instructor Pilot of the Year
2001,” while stationed with the 39AS Dyess
AFB, Texas.
Maj. Walford and his wife Kristie have two
sons, Ryan and Grant.
NAVIGATOR
Captain Michael J. Sierco
Captain Michael J. Sierco, a C-130H
Flight Commander/Instructor Navigator
with the 50th Airlift Squadron at Little
Rock AFB, Arkansas, is one class away from
dual Masters Degrees in Science, Aerospace
Operations/Aerospace Management. Prior to
his graduation from undergraduate Navigator
Training in December 1999 he held positions
as an ICBM Deputy Missile Combat Crew
Commander (August 1994 - May 1995);
an ICBM Deputy Flight Commander/
Instructor (May 1995
- June 1996); an
ICBM Missile Combat
Crew Commander
(June 1996 - February
1997); and an ICBM
Assistant Flight
Commander (February
1997 - February 1999).
Since graduating from
Navigator Training he
has served as a C-130H3 Navigator/Duty
Officer (December 1999 - June 2000); a
C-130H3 Navigator Scheduler (June 2000
- January 2001); a C-130H3 Assistant Flight
Commander/Navigator (January 2001
- June 2001); a C-130H3 Flight Commander/
Navigator; and a MC-130H Navigator.
Captain Sierco, a military history buff,
pours over battle manuals – his “lessons
learned” research was used to help with
preparations for Aghanistan airdrops during
OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM. He is
active in his Church and the community,
volunteering for work with the Girl and Boy
Scouts, the Arkansas Highway Patrol and the
Salvation Army among others.
Captain Sierco’s military decorations
include the AF Commendation Medal (2
OLC), the AF Outstanding Unit Award (4
OLC), the Combat Readiness Medal with (1
OLC), the National Defense Service Medal
with (1 OLC), the Air Medal (2 OLC), and
the Kosovo Campaign Medal.
FLIGHT ENGINEER
Technical Sergeant William D. Harris
Technical Sergeant William D. “Dave”
Harris, a MC-130H Instructor Flight Engineer
with the 15th SOS, Hurlburt Field, Florida,
was born on 10 September 1966 in Fort
Worth, Texas. He graduated from Boswell
High School, also located in Fort Worth,
Texas. A 1990 graduate
of NCO Leadership
School, his military
education also includes
53 semester hours
with the Community
College of the Air
Force and 42 semester
hours with Embry
Riddle Aeronautical
University.
TSgt Harris’ first Air Force assignment
was with the 4th Fighter Squadron (FS)
at Hill AFB, Utah, where he worked A-10
maintenance. He continued in that capacity
at his next assignments to the 91st FS at RAF
Woodbridge, United Kingdom and the 358th
FS at Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona.
After his selection for, and completion of,
C-130E Flight Engineer training, TSgt Harris
was assigned to the 61st Airlift Squadron
at Little Rock AFB, Arkansas. There he rose
to become the squadron’s Chief Instructor
Flight Engineer. Following his completion of
the MC-130H Combat Talon II Qualification
Course, TSgt Harris was assigned to the 15th
Special Operations Squadron at Hurlburt
Field, Florida. He is a senior flight engineer
with over 2200 flying hours.
TSgt Harris has flown in every major Air
Force contingency since 1995. Serving as a
CT II enginner on a high-risk exfiltration
mission during OPERATION ENDURING
FREEDOM he was credited with saving
several lives by configuring the aircraft and
dumping fuel, buying time for the pilot to
find suitable terrain for a forced landing, and
despite injuries to his head, hands and legs
sustained during the incident he risked his
own life by helping others egress the flaming
wreckage.
Active in his community, TSgt. Harris has
been a Habitat for Humanity volunteer since
1996, and is a stalwart supporter of the local
little-league baseball program.
16 A/TQ •Airlift/Tanker Quarterly • Fall 2003