The Air Force has awarded a Bronze Star Medal to Air Force Office of Special Investigations Special Agent Christopher Mitchell for his work in Afghanistan in 2006. A1C Julius Delos Reyes reports that Mitchell, who is assigned to AFOSI Det. 111 at Edwards AFB, Calif., led more than 100 combat sorties to track and neutralize terrorist threats. He created and directed human intelligence operations, including recruiting active Taliban fighters who revealed key targeting information about Taliban command and control nodes and identities of suicide bombers in route to Bagram Air Base.
Air Force F-16 pilot Lt. Col. Eric R. Emerson, who commanded a small quick reaction force of fighters responding to Iranian-backed militia groups in 2024, became the first Air National Guardsman presented with the Anthony C. Shine Award on Feb. 10.
