Gold Knight recipients

Col. Jeffrey Flewelling (left), 21st Space Wing vice commander, and Chief Master Sgt. Richard Redman (right), 21st SW command chief, present the Gold Knight award to a joint team who provided exercise support to a button-up exercise at Cheyenne Mountain Air Force Station. (U.S. Air Force photo)

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Joint team earns Gold Knight award

Published Jan. 17, 2013

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- A joint team comprised of both Air Force and Army professionals from varied specialty codes combined to earn the Gold Knight award.

The team cooperated to support Operation Vigilant Shield, a NORAD/NORTHCOM readiness exercise held at Cheyenne Mountain Air Force Station, Colo. During the button-up exercise within the mountain, the team provided contingency billeting, food service, and medical support for the nearly 500 joint service participants, as well as supporting daily operations.

The group constructed four tents and issued hundreds of cots and linens in less than four hours, served 700 meals, often hand-delivering the meals to high-security work stations, and mobilized and exercised the 721st Mission Support Group clinic augmentation plan from 21st Medical Group.

Team members include Lt. Col. Craig Nuezil (NORAD/NORTHCOM), Chief Master Sgt. Pat Fry, Susan Ruby, Mark Onken, Master Sgt. Chuck Phillips (N/NC), Master Sgts. Dewaine Olson and Porter Gee, Tech. Sgt. Marie Mindach-Putnam, Staff Sgt. Joshua Pallardy, Senior Airmen Andrew Ho, Alexandria Molony and Candace Philippo, Airmen 1st Class Nathan Bowman and Bridget Sargent, and from Fort Carson Sgt. 1st Class Willie Poole, and Sgts. Mark Vickery, Alecia Riley and Shelvin Jackson.

Gold Knight recipients