Meet the Air Force’s Team of the Year

Air Force first sergeants are the Air Force’s 2011 Team of the Year. “These men and women have showed exceptional professionalism, technical expertise, and leadership skills that have truly warranted this recognition. We commend them for their great commitment and courage,” said Sandy Schlitt, Air Force Association Chairman of the Board. Each year, the Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force leads a group of command chief master sergeants that chooses a specific Air Force career field for this honor and then selects individual members within that career field for special recognition. This year, those members are: CMSgt. David R. Henry, first sergeant functional manager at Air Force Reserve Command headquarters at Robins AFB, Ga.; SMSgt. Melanie K. Noel, instructor at the Air Force First Sergeant Academy at Maxwell AFB, Ala.; SMSgt. Manny Piñeiro, first sergeant for Third Air Force headquarters at Ramstein AB, Germany; SMSgt. Ernest T. Williams, first sergeant for the 147th Combat Communications Squadron at San Diego ANGS, Calif.; and MSgt. Todd K. Meaney, first sergeant for the 790th Missile Security Forces Squadron at F.E. Warren AFB, Wyoming. (AFA release)