Lance P. Sijan Award Winners Recognized by U.S. Air Force

The Air Force recognized the Lance P. Sijan Leadership Award recipients from 2019 to 2022 during an award ceremony at the Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia, April 3.

Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. CQ Brown, Jr., spoke about the prestigious award, highlighting the accomplishments of the Airmen who embody Sijan's leadership and character in performance and standards of personal conduct.

"Your acts of courage and inspirational leadership is why we are all here today," Brown said during the ceremony. "You carry on a legacy of courage, resilience and dedication to duty that Capt. Sijan stood for."

The ceremony received a special legacy tribute as Sijan's younger sister Janine Sijan attended the event and accompanied Brown with the presentation of the awards.

"I thank you all so much from Sijans' past, present and future" Sijan said to the recipients. "You're my new family."

An Air Force Academy graduate and combat pilot, Capt. Lance P. Sijan was the first Air Force Academy graduate to receive the Medal of Honor, awarded posthumously, for his bravery and courage while evading capture and during captivity as a prisoner of war in Vietnam.

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