BLUEHAWK
07-09-2005, 02:58 AM
"Three Air Education and Training Command logistics personnel were recently awarded the Bronze Star for their meritorious service in Iraq.
Col. Robert D. Winiecki, Logistics Division chief, was awarded the medal for his exceptionally meritorious achievement while assigned to the Joint Contracting Command-Iraq at Camp Victory, Baghdad, Iraq from November 23, 2004 to March 30, 2005. He orchestrated the stand-up of the contracting forces office and managed contracting support to more than 130,000 coalition troops at 185 forward operating bases in Iraq.
Lt. Col. Casey D. Blake, AETC Contracting Squadron commander, served meritoriously from July 9 to October 14, 2004 as the Iraqi Projects and Contracting Office chief, Joint Contracting Command, Iraq. While there, Colonel Blake directed the contracting of more than $2 billion to rebuild Iraq's electrical, communications and transportation infrastructure.
Chief Master Sgt. Ronald A. Lee, AETC supply functional manager, was awarded the Bronze Star for meritorious service from August 14, 2003 through August 20, 2004. Chief Lee, served as chief enlisted manager for the 379th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron and provided constant logistical support for more than 20,000 combat sorties during the Global War on Terrorism.
Col. Stephen D. Schmidt, AETC Logistics director, said, "It is an extremely rare event when three Airmen are awarded the Bronze Star for service in a combat zone, but these Airmen impressed their commanders at every step.
"In Colonel Winiecki's case, the Army commanding general he served under wrote me a personal note about his ability to lead deployed troops in theater," Colonel Schmidt said. "He told me his leadership was 'unquestionably the best he'd ever seen in a combat zone.
"We are all proud of these Airmen and their professional selfless service often under direct fire from the enemy," Colonel Schmidt said. "It really demonstrates the changing nature of warfare. No longer are our logistics professionals just those in the rear with the gear. It confirms that every Airman is indeed a warrior, leading the fight against terrorism across the fading front lines of our interconnected world."
The Bronze Star was authorized by Executive Order No. 9419 on February 4, 1944 and is awarded to a person in any branch of the military service who has distinguished himself or herself by heroic or meritorious achievement or service, not involving participation in aerial flight, in connection with military operations against an armed enemy."
Col. Robert D. Winiecki, Logistics Division chief, was awarded the medal for his exceptionally meritorious achievement while assigned to the Joint Contracting Command-Iraq at Camp Victory, Baghdad, Iraq from November 23, 2004 to March 30, 2005. He orchestrated the stand-up of the contracting forces office and managed contracting support to more than 130,000 coalition troops at 185 forward operating bases in Iraq.
Lt. Col. Casey D. Blake, AETC Contracting Squadron commander, served meritoriously from July 9 to October 14, 2004 as the Iraqi Projects and Contracting Office chief, Joint Contracting Command, Iraq. While there, Colonel Blake directed the contracting of more than $2 billion to rebuild Iraq's electrical, communications and transportation infrastructure.
Chief Master Sgt. Ronald A. Lee, AETC supply functional manager, was awarded the Bronze Star for meritorious service from August 14, 2003 through August 20, 2004. Chief Lee, served as chief enlisted manager for the 379th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron and provided constant logistical support for more than 20,000 combat sorties during the Global War on Terrorism.
Col. Stephen D. Schmidt, AETC Logistics director, said, "It is an extremely rare event when three Airmen are awarded the Bronze Star for service in a combat zone, but these Airmen impressed their commanders at every step.
"In Colonel Winiecki's case, the Army commanding general he served under wrote me a personal note about his ability to lead deployed troops in theater," Colonel Schmidt said. "He told me his leadership was 'unquestionably the best he'd ever seen in a combat zone.
"We are all proud of these Airmen and their professional selfless service often under direct fire from the enemy," Colonel Schmidt said. "It really demonstrates the changing nature of warfare. No longer are our logistics professionals just those in the rear with the gear. It confirms that every Airman is indeed a warrior, leading the fight against terrorism across the fading front lines of our interconnected world."
The Bronze Star was authorized by Executive Order No. 9419 on February 4, 1944 and is awarded to a person in any branch of the military service who has distinguished himself or herself by heroic or meritorious achievement or service, not involving participation in aerial flight, in connection with military operations against an armed enemy."