Wing Airmen recognized as AFSPC Outstanding Airman of the Year Published May 1, 2012 By Lea Johnson 21st Space Wing Public Affairs staff writer PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- Two of the 21st Space Wing's Airmen have been recognized as the best of the best in Air Force Space Command. Senior Airman Nicholas Hurt, 721st Security Forces Squadron, was named AFSPC Outstanding Airman of the Year in the airman category, and Capt. Kirk Greene, 21st Mission Support Group executive officer, was named AFSPC AOY in the company grade officer category during a banquet honoring the AOY nominees April 12. "It was all a surprise and, at the same time, it was exciting and thrilling to be recognized at that level," Greene said. To be eligible for the AFSPC-level award, both Hurt and Greene had to win Outstanding Airmen of the Year at the group-level and the 14th Air Force-level. Greene was previously the 21st Civil Engineering Squadron Asset Management flight chief. "The whole reason I even took the time to write (a package) on myself is because I had a lot of deployment bullets that I could pull from," he said. Greene spent the first half of 2011 as a member of the Paktia Provincial Reconstruction Team in Afghanistan where he oversaw $46 million in humanitarian construction, commanded 44 combat patrols, and contributed to suppress five insurgents and protect U.S. service members. The second half of the year, Greene spent managing the infrastructure at Peterson as the 21st CES Asset Management flight chief. "I oversaw the real estate property and infrastructure for the entire base of Peterson and provided support to all the other (geographically separated units). Some of the bullets captured some big leases that were coming due that I was able to help push through at the last minute," he said. Hurt is a unit trainer for the 721st SFS. When his name was announced at the banquet, Hurt said he was in disbelief. "I was sitting there with five other candidates and I saw most of their packages. I was thinking these guys have just as good of a chance as I do," he said. Hurt's accomplishments include being the only E-3 to lead a mission "outside the wire" while deployed to Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, and putting out a vehicle fire at a fuel point. He was also the designated radio telephone operator for 38 missions while deployed. For Greene, the AFSPC level award marks the end of the road as the Air Force does not have a CGO category for its 12 Outstanding Airman of the Year award. "I'm appreciative to have this opportunity. I appreciate all the support that my supervisors have provided along the way as well as all the support from the folks within my flight and those folks over in Afghanistan. Nobody does something like this without good teams and I certainly had great teams helping me out and wonderful leadership," Greene said. Hurt's package will be reviewed by the Air Force OAY selection board. The Air Force OAY award recognizes 12 outstanding, active-duty enlisted professionals in a range of grades representing a cross section of career fields for superior leadership, job performance, community involvement, and personal achievements. Winners will be notified this summer and will be recognized in September at the Air Force Association's Annual Air and Space Conference and Technology Exposition in Washington, D.C.