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Hurlburt Field captain, civilian receive AF manpower awards

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Kristina Newton
  • 1st SOW Public Affairs
HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. --  Two members of Team Hurlburt recently received Air Force-level recognition for being the best of the best among mission support personnel.

Capt. Darcy Gustafson, 1st Special Operations Mission Support Squadron manpower and organization flight commander, and Sherri Hayes, Air Force Special Operations Command chief of manpower and organization civilian personnel division, each garnered an Air Force award for excellence in manpower and organization.

Captain Gustafson is the 2007 Air Force Mission Support Installation-Level Company Grade Officer of the Year. She spent the first seven of her 15 years in the Air Force as an enlisted pharmacy technician before getting her commission and becoming a manpower officer.

Now she serves as the primary manpower advisor to all elements of the 1st Special Operations Wing. She analyzes and develops recommendations for manpower requirements and organizational structure for peacetime and wartime operations.

Maj. Damon Menendez, 1st SOMSS commander, praised Captain Gustafson's work ethic and called her a professional warrior who is a credit to the Air Commando name.

"She is one of the finest officers I have worked with," Major Menendez said. "I can't think of anyone more deserving of an Air Force-level award."

Ms. Hayes is the 2007 Air Force Mission Support Installation-Level Senior Civilian Manager of the Year. She began her career in the manpower field 16 years ago. Currently, Ms. Hayes oversees organization infrastructure, including budgeting and planning.

Col. James Wendling, AFSOC chief manpower personnel and services directorate, said Ms. Hayes has been the bedrock of AFSOC manpower for sometime.

"With emerging missions and new force structure her contributions have been even more significant than before, she is instrumental in getting the right people in the right places at the right time," the colonel said.

Both women seem humbled by the win and expressed gratitude to their supervisors for submitting them and to their coworkers for helping them achieve their goals.

"It's very rewarding, but I have to give credit to the people in my office for the accomplishments," Ms. Hayes said. "It's a group effort that gets the job done."

Captain Gustafson said she feels this award validates what she tries to do every day as an officer and a leader.

"It inspires me to continue to push myself and those around me to go above and beyond the normal expectations and improve everything we touch," she said.