131st Bomb Wing names Outstanding Airmen of the Year

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. John E. Hillier
  • 131st Bomb Wing Public Affairs

The 131st Bomb Wing celebrated its 2021 Outstanding Airmen of the Year during unit training assembly here January 30, 2020.

The Airmen selected are recognized for their professional expertise as well as consistently representing the best of the communities served by the Missouri National Guard.

“This past year has seen our Airmen go above and beyond for our state and nation every day,” said 131st Bomb Wing Commander Col. Matthew Calhoun. “The men and women we recognize today have performed above that high standard to be models of the integrity, service and excellence we aspire to as United States Airmen.”

The honorees, chosen from across the nearly 1200 Airmen of the 131st Bomb Wing, are:

Capt. Ken Pederson, 131st Maintenance Group, Company Grade Officer of the Year
Senior Master Sgt. Benjamin Middleton, 157th Air Operations Group, Senior Noncommissioned Officer of the Year.
Master Sgt. John Hendrix, 131st Maintenance Group, First Sergeant of the Year.
Staff Sgt. Brittany Schneider, 131st Mission Support Group, Noncommissioned Officer of the Year.
Senior Airman Marc Tiernan, 131st Mission Support Group, Junior Enlisted Airman of the Year.

In addition to being named the wing’s Airmen of the Year, these Airmen will go on to compete at the state level in February.