NSA awards honor Goodfellow Airmen

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Stephen Musal
  • 17th Training Wing Public Affairs
GOODFELLOW AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  The National Security Agency in Washington, D.C., recognized several of Goodfellow's intelligence professionals during its annual Learning Excellence Awards ceremony earlier this month.

This year was the first in which groups could compete for awards, and a Goodfellow team comprising Master Sgt. Brian Barnett, Sean Hamill, Army Sgt. First Class Susanne Watts and Tech. Sgt. Kelly Bales, all assigned to the 316th Training Squadron, won the Learning Innovator of the Year second runner-up award.

Additionally, Susan Williams, currently the 17th Training Support Squadron Faculty Support Flight chief, was the second runner-up in the Learning Support of the Year award, competing against more than 60 individuals world-wide. Ms. Williams was assigned to the 316 TRS Plans and Programs office when she was nominated for the award.

"It's very exciting to see members of Team Goodfellow receive national-level recognition for their work in executing the largest intelligence training transformation since World War Two," said Lt. Col. Thomas Dobbs, 316th Training Squadron commander. "It means a lot that the NSA Director, Army Lt. Gen. Keith Alexander, set aside the time to recognize our award nominees personally during the Learning Excellence Awards ceremony."

The Learning Innovator of the Year award recognizes individuals or groups whose new ideas and applications dramatically increase training efficiency.

"The ability of these individuals to integrate dynamic approaches to education has sparked original ways of thinking in the areas of learning, knowledge-sharing and workforce development," read the awards citation.

According to the citation, the "all-star team" from Goodfellow completely revised the 522 - hour Spanish Cryptologic Language Analyst course, bringing new advances in technology and real-world mission requirements to the training environment in order to better prepare our Airmen, Soldiers, Sailors and Marines for their mission.

"I thought that this was a really great opportunity to work as a team," said Sergeant Bales. "Four of us were recognized, but many people working along with us made this possible." As for the one factor which propelled their team over the rest, Sergeant Bales cited "tenacity."

"Despite adversity, we kept pressing through," he said, adding that while he is very honored, this award won't change the way they do business. "We'll keep pushing the envelope daily," he said.

All of the military members of the team were awarded the Joint Service Achievement Medal for their work, while Mr. Hamill and Ms. Wiliams each received a cash reward. Ms. Williams said she was very surprised when she found out she'd been selected as the second runner-up out of the more than 60 applicants.

"It was almost surreal," she said. "It was a great feeling to be recognized by my local peer group, but it is incredibly gratifying to be recognized by a national agency like the NSA," Ms. Williams added. She also said that being honored on that level was incredibly motivating.

"You want to be around people and programs which challenge you," she said. "To know that your programs, accomplishments and vision are being recognized at the national level against competitors from all around the world is incredible."

Ms. Williams has won awards as the former Second Air Force Senior Civilian of the Quarter in 2003 and was the Air Education and Training Command nominee for the Air Force Intelligence Awards Program Civilian of the Year for 2007. Like her colleagues in the 316 TRS, Ms. Williams credits a team effort for her accomplishments.

"This award won't change the way we do things," she said. "It's all about a collaborative effort, and getting that effort recognized for teams and individuals. I couldn't have done anything without great teams of people." Lieutenant Colonel Dobbs said he was proud of all the winners, whether currently or formerly a part of the 316 TRS.

"It shows that the senior leadership of our national intelligence community recognizes the enormous importance of training and education in enhancing our national security," he said. "The intelligence training we do at Goodfellow Air Force Base is a huge part of that effort."