2011 OAY nominees celebrate 30 years of AFSPC Published April 3, 2012 By Master Sgt. Kevin Williams Air Force Space Command Public Affairs PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- Air Force Space Command welcomes its brightest stars home during the first major event marking the command's 30th anniversary celebration. The nominees for the 2011 Outstanding Airmen of the Year arrive on Peterson Air Force Base April 9 to embark on a week of professional development and engage with senior leaders, concluding with a formal banquet in their honor. As excited as the nominees are, AFSPC's very own command chief is also thrilled to welcome the nominees and get to know them during events leading up to the banquet. "As leaders, recognizing our superior performers is critically important and one of the best parts of our jobs," said Chief Master Sgt. Linus Jordan Jr., AFSPC command chief. "These Airmen represent the very best the command has to offer. That says a lot knowing the caliber of people we have and things they accomplish every day. I look forward to meeting these fine Airmen, hearing their stories and being a part of the festivities. This is truly an honor." Throughout the week, the nominees will participate in briefings, tours and events. Among the tours are trips to the Air and Space Museum here and the U.S. Air Force Academy. The museum will give the nominees the opportunity to learn about the people, systems and events that shaped AFSPC. At the academy, they will experience a cadet's daily life and have lunch with the cadets. An extensive event like this doesn't happen without a strong committee of volunteers who work countless hours putting everything together. "The AFSPC OAY committee worked extremely hard to ensure the command's OAY honorees have a memorable and exciting week," said Senior Master Sgt. Kristine Jones, AFSPC Intelligence, Surveillance & Reconnaissance superintendent and AOY Committee chair. "It takes an outstanding team to pull together an event of this magnitude. There are more small details than anyone can ever imagine. I am so thankful for the opportunity to work with this great group of volunteers." Representing the 21st Space Wing and the 14th Air Force are Capt. Kirk Greene, 21st Mission Support Group, and Senior Airman Nicholas Hurt, 721st Security Forces Squadron. Greene, who is now the 21st MSG executive officer, was the 21st Civil Engineer Squadron Asset Management flight chief following a deployment to Afghanistan. "I was shocked when I found out I won the (14th Air Force) award," said Greene, who competes in the company grade officer category. "I didn't think I would make it this far. I'm honored to have excelled to this level, and I look forward to representing the wing and the numbered Air Force in this competitive selection," he said. In addition to being a flight chief, Greene was deployed 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. Hurt is a unit trainer at the 721st SFS, where he has been stationed since November 2009. Hurt found out he won the 14th Air Force Airman of the Year award in early March. "It was a great feeling," he said. "So many times you are just seen as a number, and to be recognized for some of your accomplishments is pretty cool." Hurt's accomplishments include being the only E-3 to lead a mission "outside the wire" while deployed to Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, putting out a vehicle fire at a fuel point, and he was the designated radio telephone operator for 38 missions while deployed. The nominees go before the OAY board April 10 for an interview and question and answer process. These results combined with their package scores determine the winners in each category to be named at the banquet April 12.