Two named Texas ANG Outstanding Airman of the Year

  • Published
  • By Connie Hempel
  • 17th Training Wing Public Affairs
GOODFELLOW AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  Two of Goodfellow's own were named the best in Texas Jan. 9 as they each won an Outstanding Airman of the Year award for the Texas Air National Guard.

Senior Airman Adam G. Rodgers, winner of the Airman category, and Master Sgt. Sean S. Morrison, SNCO category winner, are both instructors with the 217th Training Squadron and beat out Guardsmen from 16 different squadrons throughout Texas for their awards. Now they face 52 others, one from each state, plus Puerto Rico and Guam, as they compete to represent the Air National Guard for 12 Outstanding Airman of the Year awards.

"These two members represent the high standards held by all of our squadron personnel and reflect our motto, ADFERRE OPTIMUM AD PUGNAM - 'Bringing the Best to the Fight,'" said Lt. Col. James Marrs, 217th TRS Commander.

He said that although the 217th is the newest - and one of the smallest - units in the Texas Air National Guard, these awards corroborate the 217th TRS's policy of selecting only the best of applicants from the total force to serve as the initial cadre of the squadron and the core cadre of the instructor force at Goodfellow.

Airman Rodgers is a San Angelo native and Central High School Class of 2001 graduate. He is also a 2005 Angelo State University graduate, holding a Bachelor's of Science Degree in Finance. He said growing up in an Air Force family made his decision to join the Air Force an easy one, but what keeps him motivated is the experience he gets from deployments.

"Seeing first hand that there are people in the world that would love nothing more than to harm my family is all the motivation that I need," Airman Rodgers explained.

Sergeant Morrison was raised in Utopia, Texas, and graduated from Marcus High School in Lewisville, Texas, in 1988. He also comes from a military family and said following in his father's footsteps "has been the best thing I've ever done in my professional life."
He also credits his peers for his continued success in the Air Force.

"The respect of my peers in the Air Force is a very powerful motivating force in my professional career. I certainly couldn't have achieved any of the success that I have here without the hard work and dedication of the people at the 217th," Sergeant Morrison said. "What makes the 217th stand out is just that: hard work, dedication and a wealth of professional experience and passion for instruction."

Both Airman Rodgers and Sergeant Morrison said they're honored and thankful the squadron nominated them to compete for the awards.

Other notable awards received within the 217th TRS went to Maj. Jorge Caro, group level Outstanding Air Reserve Component Intelligence Surveillance Reconnaissance Field Grade Officer of the Year and Tech. Sgt. Amy Kanawi, group level Outstanding Air Reserve Component ISR NCO of the Year.

"It has been a good year for the 217th with many nominees and winners throughout our organization," Master Sgt. Daniel Hartman, 217th TRS First Sergeant, said about the award winners.