Department of the Air Force officials recently named the recipients of the 2025 Strategic Deterrence and Nuclear Integration Annual Awards. These awards recognize the outstanding accomplishments of Airmen, Guardians and civilians contributing to nuclear deterrence operations and the missile operations career field.
The performance of the DAF's Airmen, Guardians and civilians is the cornerstone of the nation's strategic deterrence. In line with this, Lt. Gen. Andrew J. Gebara, deputy chief of staff for Strategic Deterrence and Nuclear Integration, formally commended the contributions of this year's award recipients and all nominees.
"The incredible accomplishments of our personnel across the nuclear enterprise continue to set the standard for excellence," Gebara said. "I want to personally congratulate this year's award winners, along with every Airman, Guardian, civilian and team nominated for their unwavering dedication to our strategic deterrence mission."
Awarded on April 16, these nuclear professionals were selected from the DAF's major commands, field commands, the unified combatant commands, and other agencies including the Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard.
2025 Nuclear and Missile Operations Awards
• 13N Cadet of the Year: Cadet Crystian J. Montague
• 13N Operator of the Year: 1st. Lt. Shane E. Milton
• 13N Company Grade Officer of the Year: Capt. Cody J. Swift
• 13N Field Grade Officer of the Year: Maj. Scott A. Broberg
• General Thomas S. Power Award (Best Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Crew of the Year): 1st. Lt. Jacob R. Jenkins and 1st. Lt. Thales Santos
2025 Nuclear Deterrence Operations Awards
• Airman/Specialist of the Year: Senior Airman Brandon R. Burton
• Noncommissioned Officer of the Year: Staff Sgt. Joseph J. Adan
• Senior Noncommissioned Officer of the Year: Master Sgt. Keith A. Folsom
• Company Grade Officer of the Year: Capt. Joshua C. Chester
• Field Grade Officer of the Year: Maj. Linh-Dan H. Trinh
• Senior Enlisted Reservist of the Year: Tech. Sgt. Uriel I. Vargas
• Reserve Company Grade Officer of the Year: Capt. Joseph E. Baca
• Reserve Field Grade Officer of the Year: Lt. Col. Ronnie R. Ling
• Senior Enlisted Guardsman of the Year: Senior Master Sgt. Ashlea G. Woolverton
• Company Grade Officer Guardsman of the Year: Capt. Cassandra E. O'Connor
• Civilian of the Year, Category I: Whitney K. Garcia
• Civilian of the Year, Category II: Gitika Maheshwari
• Civilian of the Year, Category III: Derek B. Caduff
• Personnel Reliability and Assurance Program Manager of the Year: Master Sgt. Nieves A. Powell
Professional Team, Level 1: 48th Security Forces Squadron Surety Operations Team, U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa
• Capt. Jared J. Brown
• Senior Master Sgt. Dustin P. Taylor
• Master Sgt. Brandon A. Miller
• Tech Sgt. Andrew R. Drioane
• Tech Sgt. Denay E. Hairston
• Tech Sgt. Renee Villa
• Senior Airman Issac D. Gonzalez
• Senior Airman Matthew E. Phillips
Professional Team, Level 2: Nuclear Surety Inspections Division, U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa
• Lt. Col. Preston G. Smith
• Maj. Kyle P. Wheeler
• Senior Master Sgt. Jonathan P. Arnio
• Senior Master Sgt. Simpson T. Hill
• Senior Master Sgt. Kenneth D. McCracken
• Senior Master Sgt. Joe R. San Agustin
• Senior Master Sgt. Cecil J. Turner, Jr.
• Master Sgt. May Scimone
• Master Sgt. Carla M. Sossa
• Master Sgt. Jerrianne L. Thomas
• Master Sgt. Jacob A. Thompson
Professional Team, Level 3: Nuclear and Strategic Capabilities Team, Headquarters Air Force, Plans and Programs
Headquarters Air Force - Strategic Plans and Programs
• Col. Marcus C. Antonini
• Col. Robert J. Mack
• Lt. Col. Alex J. Benson
• Lt. Col. Lauren J. Cyr
• Lt. Col. Amanda C. LaMonica
• Lt. Col. Daniel R. Ryan
• Stephen R. Hess
• Canan Williams
Headquarters Air Force - Strategic Deterrence and Nuclear Integration
• Col. Mark C. Dmytryszyn
• Col. S. Allen Graham III
• Col. Steven P. Wyatt
• Lt. Col. Jeremy R. Coffman
• Maj. Dylan A. Dewoina
• Maj. Christopher T. Hand
• Maj. Matthew J. Rosa
• Maj. Linh-Dan H. Trinh
• Chief Master Sgt. Angelo Brightwell
• Rebecca A. Hodge
• Jamil D. Miller
• Ronald E.J. Ramsey
• Mark S. Torok
Secretary of the Air Force - Acquisitions
• Col. Jessica D. Wright
• Lt. Col. Andrew M. Flint
• Lt. Col. Benjamin N. Marshall
• Lt. Col. Daniel O'Keefe
• Lt. Col. Matthew N. Rice
• Lt. Col. Corey A. Steinkoenig
• Lt. Col. Rosemarie M. Wilde
• Maj. Kathrina M. Orozco
• Maj. Clayton J. Wilson
• George A. Barber
• Rachel L. Webb
Since 2014, the Nuclear Operations Awards Program has been administered and overseen by deputy chief of staff, Strategic Deterrence and Nuclear Integration, Headquarters, U.S. Air Force.
