WASHINGTON — Secretary of the Air Force Deborah Lee James presented the 2015 Gen. Lew Allen, Jr. trophy to four Airmen from around the globe during a ceremony at the Pentagon on July 8.
The annual award is named after the 10th chief of staff of the Air Force whose legacy was attention to detail and technical expertise and credits the accomplishments of base-level officers and senior NCOs in their performance of aircraft, munitions or missile maintenance.
Prior to presenting the awards, James spoke to the many challenges these Airmen face on a daily basis, fully confident they can, and will, do what it takes to keep the mission going.
“We are here today to receive this award, but it’s on behalf of the men and women at whatever duty location we were at that helped us,” Shepard said. “It’s a team award and we are just here to receive it on their behalf. Without them, none of this would have been possible.”
Each recipient echoed Shepard’s sentiments saying it is an honor to receive such a prestigious award, giving credit to their units’ Airmen.
“We are the greatest Air Force on this planet, precisely because we have Airmen like Capt. Shepard, Capt. Kapets, Senior Master Sgt. McCoy and Senior Master Sgt. Cave,” James said.
