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| Association of Air Force Missileers "Victors in the Cold War" - sponsors several awards to recognize active duty officer and enlisted missileers and missile units. The General Samuel Phillips Award for Operations - awarded annually by Air Force Space Command to the outstanding missile operations squadron. General Phillips was a pioneer in intercontinental ballistic missile development. The recipient for the 2005 award was the 741st Missile Squadron, 91st Space Wing, Minot AFB. The Colonel Edward Payne Award for Maintenance - awarded annually by Air Force Space Command to the missile maintenance squadron that does the most to improve the quality of life for maintenance technicians. Colonel Payne served both at Vandenberg and Ellsworth as a missile maintenance squadron commander and Deputy Commander for Maintenance. The recipient of the 2005 award was the 341st Missile Maintenance Squadron, 341st Space Wing, Malmstrom AFB. Air Force Space Command Enlisted Recognition Program - AAFM is a sponsor of the annual Outstanding Airmen of the Year program, the program that results in the selection each year of the Air Force´s Twelve Outstanding Airmen. Our support helps fund events at Peterson AFB for those selected to compete at the AF Space Command level. We began this support through a generous donation from an AAFM member who served at Vandenberg in the early missile days, and continue with generous donations from several members. Guardian Challenge - The Space and Missile Competition, Guardian Challenge, which began as the SAC Missile Competition, Curtain Raiser in 1967, and continued as Olympic Arena from 1969 to 1993, is traditionally conducted annually at Vandenberg AFB, California. The event was not held in 2003 or 2005, and in 2006 it was 14-18 August at Peterson AFB, Colorado. Missile and space wing teams competed on their home turf, with the 20AF and 14AF evaluators going to each base for the comp exercises - only the security police competed during the competition week. Events at Peterson included the contractor expo, score posting and the awards banquet. AAFM was part of the expo and once again provided coins to each participant. The 341SW from Malmstrom won the Blanchard Trophy. The Schriever Trophy for Best Space Launch Wing was the 45SW, Patrick AFB. The Aldridge Trophy for Best Space Operations Wing was the 21SW, Peterson AFB. Guardian Challenge 2008 will be at Peterson AFB, Colorado 7-9 May. AAFM will be there with our display. Air Force Enlisted Hall - AAFM Board Member CMSgt (Retired) Mike Kenderes was inducted to the Air Force Enlisted Heritage Hall as the first USAF enlisted member to be recognized for contributions during the Cold War. Mike was inducted in a ceremony in August 2004 at Peterson AFB. General Lord, AFSPC Commander, AAFM President Lieutenant General (Ret) Jay Kelley and the Director of the Enlisted Hall at Maxwell AFB Gunter Annex, Alabama, took part in the dedication at a luncheon attended by many AAFM members and attendees of the Space and Missile Pioneers meeting in Colorado Springs. Maj Gen Tom Deppe, the vice commander of AF Space Command, was inducted into the Enlisted Heritage Hall Wall of Achievers in 2007 - he was enlisted for eleven years, rising to the rank of technical sergeant, before being commissioned. Link: http://afehri.maxwell.af.mil/  Col (Ret) Allen Stephens, an early missileer who commanded one of Warren's Atlas squadrons, served in ! STRAD and ballistic missile work in the Pentagon and lived in Charlotte, NC Col (Ret) William Bifford, an AAFM member, served in Titan including commander of the 308 SMW, at Vandenberg, and lived in Rogue River, OR Lt Col (Ret) Howard J. Braley, served at Patrick, Los Angeles, Norton and Vandenberg and lived in California. Former Capt David Palmer Burr, served in Minuteman in the 351 SMW and lived in Gwynedd Valley, PA David Cooley, served in Minuteman and ALCS, lived in Carriere, MSZ Col (Ret) LeRoy (Roy) V. Greene, an AAFM member, served in Atlas in the 549 SMS, Minuteman in the 351 SMW, 90 SMW, the Pentagon and the Ballistic Missile Organization and lived in San Antonio, TX. Former Airman Jay Hansen, an AAFM member, served in Atlas in the 579 SMS and lived in Georgetown, TX Col (Ret) Merle Johnson served in Minuteman, including the 44 SMW and lived in Oregon |
