Hurlburt Field Paralegal receives Karen E. Yates-Popwell Award

Published Nov. 5, 2009
By Lt. Col. Elizabeth L. Gopaul
The Judge Advocate General Action Group

Hurlburt Field, Fla. -- A paralegal from the Air Force Special Operations Command's Staff Judge Advocate Office receives the Karen E. Yates-Popwell Award during Keystone 2009, The Judge Advocate General Corps' Leadership Summit, which was held in Dallas during the last week of October.

Master Sergeant Kristen M. Orcutt was presented her award by Lt. Gen. Jack L. Rives, U.S. Air Force judge advocate general, during an awards banquet held during the summit Oct. 29, 2009.

This award honors Chief Master Sergeant Karen E. Yates-Popwell, USAF, retired, who formerly held the position of senior paralegal manager to the judge advocate general. The award recognizes the active-duty senior noncommissioned officer in the grade of senior master sergeant or master sergeant selected as the most outstanding paralegal of the year based on demonstrated excellence, superior initiative, leadership, management skills and professionalism.

During 2008, Sergeant Orcutt performed duties as the noncommissioned officer in charge of legal operations for the 435th Air Base Wing's legal office, Ramstein Air Base, Germany, and law office superintendent for the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing's legal office, Al Dhafra Air Base, United Arab Emirates.

While at the 435th Air Base Wing legal office, Sergeant Orcutt developed a stellar paralegal recognition program that garnered two annual and 12 quarterly wing staff agency awards. She also created a court-martial checklist that the Air Force Legal Operations Agency adopted as a template and distributed Air Force-wide.

While deployed, she initiated both a legal assistance roadshow and a legal readiness seminar. Her steadfast legal support to the airmen of the wing led to her selection not once, but twice, as the Wing Staff Agency Senior Noncommissioned Officer of the Month. Upon her return to Germany, Sergeant Orcutt was chosen as the U.S. Air Forces in Europe senior paralegal inspector for a staff assistance visit to Geilenkirchen Air Base. During the inspection, she identified deficiencies and provided solutions that secured the legal office an "excellent" rating for its unit compliance inspection.

"Sergeant Orcutt is an exceptional mentor for our young paralegal Airmen," said General Rives. "Whether leading a team of wing legal office paralegals or providing legal services in the AOR, she has demonstrated the initiative and leadership skills I look for in our future paralegal leaders."

Sergeant Orcutt enlisted in the Air Force in May 1991. Sergeant Orcutt is a distinguished graduate of the Airman Leadership School and the Paralegal Apprentice Course. She received a degree from the Community College of the Air Force in Transportation Management Science in 2001. In 2003, she earned her second CCAF degree in Paralegal Science. She is pursuing a Bachelor of Art degree in Business Management from the University of Maryland University College.

Sergeant Orcutt has been awarded the Meritorious Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster, Air Force Commendation Medal with four oak leaf clusters and the Air Force Achievement Medal with one oak leaf cluster. She was honored as the 435th Air Base Wing Staff Agency Noncommissioned Officer of the Year for 2004. In 2006, she was recognized as the USAFE Senior Noncommissioned Officer Paralegal of the Year.