Lt. Gen. Brad Webb, commander of Air Force Special Operations Command, speaks during a Silver Star Medal ceremony, Dec. 15, at Hurlburt Field, Fla. Chief Master Sgt. Michael West, a Special Tactics operator with the 24th Special Operations Wing, was awarded the SSM for his actions during a five-day operation, dubbed Operation MEDUSA, in 2006. West utilized 58 coalition aircraft to deliver 24,000 pounds of precision ordnance to eliminate more than 500 enemy forces to secure the safety of 51 American special operations forces and 33 coalition partners. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Ryan Conroy)