An official website of the United States government
Here's how you know
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Maintenance officer receives Air Force-level award

  • Published
  • By By Airman 1st Class Preston Webb
  • 352nd Special Operations Group Public Affairs
RAF MILDENHALL, England --  Major Redahlia Person, 352nd Special Operations Maintenance Squadron maintenance operations officer, recently received recognition as the U.S. Air Force-level winner of the 2014 Gen. Lew Allen Jr. Trophy.

The trophy is awarded annually to a base-level maintenance officer and senior NCO with outstanding contributions to sortie generation. After being recognized at the base level, nominees continue to compete at the major command and then Air Force level.

“It is an honor to be recognized, and I am humbled,” Person said. “For me, this award represents the Airmen, civilians, supervisors, mentors and teammates that have groomed and shaped me along my career.”

Even though the recognition surprised Person, those she works with and her leadership knew she was the ideal officer to receive this award.

“This is the top award for any maintenance officer and she won it not only for the 352nd, not only for AFSOC but for the entire Air Force. She embodies what it means to be an Air Commando and I'm awfully proud to be associated with her caliber of professionalism,” said Lt. Gen. Brad Heithold, Commander of Air Force Special Operations Command.

As the operations officer, Person’s daily focus is to provide safe and reliable aircraft to the flying squadrons so they can execute their various missions.

Reaching this goal requires deliberate aircraft management and a safe work environment. Additionally, maintainers have to work as a team to ensure the best maintenance practices are upheld, training is available and resources are provided to our SOMXS Airmen.

According to Person’s award citation, she has reflected credit upon herself, U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command and the U.S. Air Force, but she claims this award recognizes the efforts of all those within the 352nd SOMXS.

“These ‘Quiet Professionals’ have taken on huge challenges and excelled,” the major said. “We simultaneously stood-up the CV-22 Osprey and transitioned to MC-130J Commando II, coming straight from the factory. At the same time, we continued legacy MC-130H Talon II operations as well as retired the MC-130P Shadow. Lastly, we provided maintenance recovery teams across (European Command) and (Africa Command) supporting not only AFSOC C-130s, but other major commands and partner nation assets.”