Civilian 'Knight' takes top PA honors Published May 27, 2008 By Senior Airman Stephen Collier 21st Space Wing Public Affairs PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- Communication, at its most basic form, is successfully passing information from one person to another. A civilian assigned to the 21st Space Wing Public Affairs office knows how to custom-tailor any communication to the world about America's premier space superiority wing. Winning the Air Force-level Public Affairs Excellence Award is Jeff Bohn, 21st SW PA officer in charge. Mr. Bohn, who cross trained into the Public Affairs career field from fire emergency services as a master sergeant, retired from active duty Air Force in 2005. Since then, the 10-year PA specialist has proven his worth with several high-visibility projects, to include communicating Peterson's base plan to city and state officials, working more than 80 wing community event requests and being hand-picked as an Air Force Space Command inspector general to evaluate the 90th Space Wing's operational readiness inspection at F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyo. Mr. Bohn's peers have commented on his PA abilities, namely Master Sgt. James Rush, 21st SW PA non-commissioned officer in charge, who has worked with the PA civilian now for about four years. "Jeff Bohn certainly stands out from his PA counterparts," Sergeant Rush said. "His depth of knowledge is uncommon even among long-time PAs. It's that much more remarkable that he spent so much of his military career as a firefighter before cross training into public affairs." Mr. Bohn's work also has centered on Peterson's Blueprint 2050 plan, a strategic vision of the base's way forward into the 21st century. His knowledge of the plan and coordination between local leaders led to the state of Colorado prioritizing a $40 million road development project as the number-one development for the state. The project will eventually smooth the flow of traffic for commuters into and out of the Peterson complex. Capt. Toni Tones, the wing's public affairs officer, currently deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, said Mr. Bohn is the "go-to person" on the PA staff here. "He's not only an effective speaker and listener, two characteristics imperative in our profession, but also the link in shaping the 21st SW, AFSPC and Air Force missions," Captain Tones said. "Mr. Bohn is a gifted Public Affairs professional with strategic vision and leadership. He's well versed in Air Force and space operations and has made an indelible impact on our team." Sergeant Rush summed up Mr. Bohn's PA efforts: "Trust him." "His recommendations, even beyond PA, are always well thought out and backed by solid research and sound logic," the master sergeant said. "The counsel he provides from the lowest-ranking Airman to the most senior leaders is right for the Air Force, right for the wing and right for this office." Mr. Bohn also won the award at the AFSPC level for 2005, 2006 and 2007.