Three Team Malmstrom members earn Bronze Star Medal

Published Jan. 19, 2012
By Airman 1st Class Katrina Heikkinen
341st Missile Wing Public Affairs

MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. -- Maj. Gen. C. Donald Alston, 20th Air Force commander, awarded the Bronze Star Medal to three members of Team Malmstrom Jan. 12. Lt. Col. William Wade Jr., 341st Mission Support Group vice commander; Capt. Brian Rutt, 341st Security Support Squadron operations officer; and Chief Master Sgt. Kyle Marquez, 341st Civil Engineer Squadron superintendent, received the medal.

"It is a particular honor to be part of a ceremony in which we recognize individuals with Bronze Stars," Alston said. "There are few places that you can meet the criteria for a Bronze Star. The three citations that you will hear today are absolutely inspirational - every last one of them."

Lt. Col. William Wade Jr.
Wade distinguished himself while serving in Afghanistan from May 2009 to May 2010 as commander of the 955th Expeditionary Squadron, 755th Air Expeditionary Group and 455th Expeditionary Wing at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan.

In support of the International Security Assistance Force and Operation Enduring Freedom, Wade's exceptional leadership skills were crucial in paving the way for the first Air Expeditionary Squadron in Regional Command-East - that eventually executed joint operations for more than 600 Airmen at 20 locations across Afghanistan.

"It's quite an honor to receive the Bronze Star Medal," Wade said. "We couldn't have accomplished our mission if it wasn't for the incredible 624 Joint Expeditionary Tasked Airmen in the squadron who supported the 82nd Airborne Division and International Security Assistance Forces. I'm grateful for their service and the many heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice."

Wade constantly made sure that his combat Airmen were properly trained, equipped and ready. He resolved hundreds of fluid Request-For-Forces and Joint Expeditionary Tasking sourcing and training challenges, and he completed 51 outside-the-wire missions via rotary, fixed-wing and group assault vehicles to assess the health and welfare of his Airmen.

Capt. Brian Rutt
Rutt earned the Bronze Star Medal for serving as a flight leader with the 455th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron, 455th Expeditionary Mission Support Group and 455th Air Expeditionary Wing while engaged in group operations at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan from April to October 2010.

While serving there, Rutt led more than 190 security forces members tasked to perform fly-away security missions and defend the most populated defense sector of the base, to include six aircraft ramps and two coalition hospital entry points. He directed response and recovery for 11 indirect fire attacks and 28 attempted perimeter breaches. Rutt also served as the Battle Captain in the Joint Defense Operations Center, where he coordinated base-wide defense efforts to counter the largest ground attack against an Air Force-defended base in 40 years.

"I see this medal as a reflection of the cumulative brave actions of the troops," Rutt said.

Rutt was also part of a fly-away team that secured 95 airlift sorties, 290 short tons of cargo and 230 passengers providing critical supplies to 36 operating sites in Afghanistan and humanitarian relief following catastrophic flooding in Pakistan.

Chief Master Sgt. Kyle Marquez
Marquez distinguished himself while serving as a superintendent, construction team south, 467th Expeditionary Prime Base Engineer Emergency Force Squadron, 467th Air Expeditionary Group, U.S. Forces-Iraq, at Baghdad, Iraq from December 2010 to June 2011.

In support of Operation New Dawn, Marquez guided his team through 23 air movements across 46,700 miles and 300 combat logistical patrols along 4,000 miles of heavily explosive-laden territory.

"I'm humbled and truly credit the outstanding engineers on my team who, despite some challenging moments, remained focused on accomplishing the mission," Marquez said.

His expertise and leadership helped to enable a 44-person construction team in the completion of 26 projects valued at $4.5 million across 44,000 square miles of U.S. Division Central and U.S. Division South's operational environments.

Not only has his expertise been the driving force in many projects, but Marquez led a 12-man team in the successful repair of 70 spalls and partial-depth repairs, thus saving $2.5 million and avoiding closure of a strategic USD-S intra-theater tactical airlift hub.

"I credit my team that I was with from the youngest 18-year-old airman to three master sergeants, who really helped me out," Marquez said. "I wouldn't have been able to accomplish anything without them."