AFGSC 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year nominees announced Published April 5, 2010 By Megan A. Orton Air Force Global Strike Command Public Affairs BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. -- Four Air Force Global Strike Command Airmen were awarded the Command's Airmen of the Year awards recently at a ceremony here. The banquet, held in conjunction with the AFGSC Commander's Conference, was attended by all of the Command's top leaders and presided over by AFGSC Commander Lt. Gen. Frank Klotz. "Every one of you are winners, and shining examples of what this Command values," General Klotz said to the nominees. "You all represent the best of what the Air Force stands for." General Klotz said he continually is impressed by what Airmen achieve on a daily basis. "Winning a headquarters or Numbered Air Force award is a significant milestone in anyone's career," he said. "We're proud of your service, your dedication, and hard work above and beyond the call of duty." The Honorees Senior Airman Ryan Pfeifer, a response force leader assigned to the 791st Missile Squadron at Minot Air Force Base, N.D., was recognized as the Airman of the Year. Airman Pfeifer briefed the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff on the convoy response force weapon system. He also saved 200 man hours annually by improving the creation and distribution process for the convoy operations briefing. Airman Pfeifer was one of only four convoy response force flight members selected for aerial surveillance missions and served as fire team leader, leading the way for more than 25 successful evaluations. Airman Pfeifer is also working on his private pilot's license and is active in the community. His service with the YMCA led to his being named as YMCA Volunteer of the Year. Staff Sgt. Jeremy Thatcher, a tactical response force leader with the 341st Security Forces Group at Malmstrom Air Force Base, Mont., was recognized as Noncommissioned Officer of the Year. He directed 40 UH-1 Huey flight missions, and secured $920 million in mission-critical assets. Sergeant Thatcher led airborne forces during an unauthorized entry attempt, preventing access to $7 million in assets. The sergeant also enhanced multi-agency operability by participating in training with Federal Bureau of Investigation and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives agents and spearheaded M-107 and M-24 qualification training with the Army. Sergeant Thatcher completed his Community College of the Air Force degree and volunteered with Big Brothers Big Sisters and Salvation Army. Senior Master Sgt. Chance Glascock, Superintendent of the 90th Comptroller Squadron at F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyo., was recognized as Senior NCO of the Year. Sergeant Glascock was noted by his commander as a key leader who directly contributed to the squadron's earning Air Force Space Command CPTS of the Year. He provided mission-critical spending guidance to 16 deployed sites in eight countries, overseeing $470.2 million in Air Force funds. Sergeant Glascock also deployed to seven additional hostile sites, correcting 17 financial deficiencies and restoring $10 million to the AOR. Sergeant Glascock served as vice president of his local chapter of American Society of Military Comptrollers and donated time to Fisher House and the Child ID project, which produces identification cards for children. Master Sgt. Keisha Yarbrough, first sergeant to the 2d Medical Group at Barksdale Air Force Base, La., was recognized as First Sergeant of the Year. Her commander ranked her number one of 46 sergeants, noting that she is an "exemplary leader." Sergeant Yarborough was awarded the bronze star for her leadership as sergeant of the guard at Camp Bucca, the largest detainment facility in Iraq. She directly supervised the care, custody, control and humane treatment of over 2,200 detainees. Stateside, after a Barksdale Airman suffered a heart attack, Sergeant Yarborough organized support for the Airman's family. She also responded to two sexual assault response cases and successfully defused a domestic battery incident. Sergeant Yarbrough led the care program for spouses of deployed personnel at Barksdale and base volunteer efforts for Angel Food Ministries. Award winners were chosen from among numbered Air Force and Headquarters AFGSC nominees. The award selection board consisted of three command chief master sergeants and one chief from within AFGSC Headquarters, each of whom asked the nominee two questions: one question based on his or her nomination package and one question about Air Force culture or world events. Board scores were tallied along with the scores from each Airman's nomination packages. Command winners will go on to compete at the Air Force-level for the 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year awards, to be announced this summer.