AFA honors AFSOC Airman - 12 OAY Published Sept. 22, 2011 By Rachel Arroyo Air Force Special Operations Command Public Affairs HURLBURT FIELD, Fla -- By 23, this Special Tactics Airman had deployed three times, participating in 60 combat missions in the past year alone. Senior Airman Daniel Skidmore, one of the 2010 Air Force Outstanding Airmen of the Year and Air Force Special Operations Command's Airman of the Year, began his year providing humanitarian assistance in Haiti and ended it bringing the fight to the Taliban in Afghanistan. "Airman Skidmore is an exceptional American and warrior," said Col. Robert Armfield, commander of the 720th Special Tactics Group. "We in the 720 STG are incredibly proud of him for being selected as a top 12 Airman." Skidmore was recognized by Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James Roy at the Air Force Association annual convention in Washington D.C. Sept. 19. The Air Force Association Outstanding Airmen of the Year program recognizes 12 enlisted personnel who excel in the arenas of leadership, job performance, community involvement and personal achievements. Selectees serve on the Air Force Enlisted Council for a year. Acknowledged for his work as a combat controller assigned to the 21st Special Tactics Squadron, Pope Field, N.C., Skidmore said his first impression on being selected was total disbelief. "To be named 12 OAY is a huge honor, but with all the honor comes responsibility," he said. "Getting to bring the enlisted force's problems straight to the top is now a reality, and that is an honor." His shock stemmed from the fact that he knows "tons of guys who have done a lot of amazing things this year." Skidmore is among their ranks. When a 7.0 magnitude earthquake devastated Haiti in 2010, he was in Port-au-Prince within 26 hours controlling aircraft. With little more than a rucksack, he worked with a ten-man crew to control a makeshift international airport housing the busiest single runway since the Berlin Airlift. A plane landed or took off every five minutes. "Wherever we could fit guys in, we fit them - in the grass, on the apron (tarmac). There were planes everywhere," Skidmore said. The team worked through the night, marshalling more than 100 aircraft and controlling 4180 flights. Their service enabled more than 4 million pounds of international aid to be delivered to the Haitians. The crew did this with zero mishaps. Skidmore's selection as one of the 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year did not come as a surprise to teammate Staff Sgt. Robert Gutierrez because of the consistent quality of his work. Gutierrez, also being recognized at the conference as the fourth recipient of the Air Force Cross since Sept. 11, said he was proud to have him as a teammate. "His work is his reputation, and it is flawless," Gutierrez said. "I'm very glad to see he is representing combat control for the Air Force." Skidmore rounded out his time in Haiti on an emergency mission resulting in the rescue of three stranded American missionaries from an area reduced to rubble. He recalls the houses had fallen one on top of the other, like a string of dominoes. Though injected into chaos in Haiti, these environments are the ones in which combat controllers are trained to operate best. "Situations like these broaden your horizons," Skidmore said. "You just get thrown in and have to get things done." This hard-charging approach saw him deploy to Afghanistan early to fill a squadron manning gap. Skidmore participated in 60 combat missions, engaging in three firefights. He controlled 30 aircraft and four airstrikes, directing precision airpower against the enemy. When a teammate was hit, he called in a medevac helicopter to administer life-saving care. He surveyed two drop zones and controlled 10 airdrops delivering 120,000 pounds of supplies to his forward operating base. He was also responsible for teaching marksmanship and first aid to Afghan local police, bolstering village security. Skidmore has been in the Air Force for five years, responding to what he termed a compelling call to serve. The events of Sept. 11 left a lasting impression, affecting his decision to join at 18. He did not want to look back on his life in 20 years feeling as though he had not given anything back to his country, he said. This decision coupled with the strength of the Special Tactics brotherhood led to his desire to make a career out of combat control. "You'll find it nowhere else, and I'm not going to go looking for it anywhere else," Skidmore said. "I've never met another group of guys so willing to go the distance for you and lay it all on the line." Skidmore's courage in battle is contrasted by his humility in recognition. "I'd like to thank all my brothers in Special Tactics and all the support we get from the guys in the rigger and radio shops," he said. "I want to thank all the people working behind the scenes to help us win wars. I'm just a small piece of this whole puzzle." Skidmore is one of 10 Outstanding Airmen of the Year representing Air Force Special Operations Command. The AFSOC 2010 winners are: Kara Caselman, Category 3 Civilian of the Year, 27th Special Operations Logistics Readiness Squadron Capt. Justin Connelli, Company Grade Officer of the Year, 21st Special Tactics Squadron Master Sgt. LaToya Edwards, First Sergeant of the Year, 320th Special Tactics Squadron Technical Sgt. Anna Encalada, Individual Enlisted Reservist of the Year, 1st Special Operations Wing Antonio Herrera, Category 2 Civilian of the Year, AFSOC Directorate of Installations and Mission Support Master Sgt. Herman Lett, Jr., Senior Noncommissioned Officer of the Year, 1st Special Operations Logistics Readiness Squadron Christopher Ramsey, Category 1 Civilian of the Year, 1st Special Operations Civil Engineer Squadron Technical Sgt. Ismael Villegas, Noncommissioned Officer of the Year, 21st Special Tactics Squadron Maj. Archer Yates, Individual Officer Reservist of the Year, 1st Special Operations Support Squadron