Enlisted troops nominated for honors from Colorado Springs business group

The top troops in the Pikes Peak region will be lauded at a Wednesday luncheon sponsored by the Colorado Springs Regional Business Alliance in honor of Armed Forces Week. - The luncheon will feature a speech from Gen. John Hyten, the boss of Air Force Space Command, but all eyes will be on the airmen, privates and sergeants in line for the region's top military honor. - The annual event is a forum for the community to honor the troops who give their lives to the nation, said Andy Merritt, who runs the alliance's military programs. - "It demonstrates the depth of the community's support for our military," he said. - Awards go to enlisted troops, with categories for junior enlisted, junior sergeants and senior sergeants. - "The enlisted forces are the backbone of our military," Merritt said. - The troops are nominated by their commands for exceptional service and are screened by the alliance's Military Affairs Council. - The winners will be announced during the luncheon, which starts at 11:15 a.m. Wednesday at The Broadmoor. - The nominees, Page 9

JUNIOR ENLISTED TROOPS

Senior Airman Johnathon R. Berckefeldt

Berckefeldt is an orbital analyst in Schriever Air Force base's 50th Space Wing.

Born in Florence, Berckefeldt was a three-sport athlete in high school who later trained to repair car stereos and other mobile electronics before joining the Air Force in 2012.

At Schriever, Berckefeldt helps operate a constellation of military communication satellites. Among other duties, he monitors the satellites in orbit and watches for possible collisions in space.

He also earned honors in 2014 for his work as a member of Schriever's honor guard.

Berckefeldt is married to a fellow airmen, Kristen Berckefeldt, who serves in the 21st Space Wing at Peterson Air Force Base.

Senior Airman Bryan P. Cochran

Cochran works with the Global Positioning System for Schriever Air Force Base's 310th Space Wing.

The reservist is a former soldier who served in the famed 3rd Infantry Regiment, whose ranks include the guards for the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery.

Cochran left the Army in 2011, but returned to the military in 2013 with the 310th.

The Texas native enjoys spending time with his wife and daughter and volunteers in the community for causes, including the Make A Wish Foundation and the Humane Society of the Pikes Peak region.

Pfc. Brittney J. Coleman

Coleman is a power generation technician with the Army's 1st Space Brigade at Peterson Air Force Base.

A California native, Coleman was a cosmetologist before joining the Army in 2013.

She's in charge of maintaining her unit's power generation equipment.

An avid outdoorswoman, she plans to rise to the top of the enlisted ranks before her Army time is finished.

Senior Airman Daniel J. Hirsch

Hirsch is a fuels specialist in the Air Force Reserve's 302nd Airlift Wing at Peterson Air Force Base.

A Colorado native, the part-time airman works as a real-estate agent and financial coach when he's not in uniform.

He's also studying to become an engineer.

Hirsch has worked as a volunteer for underprivileged and special needs children and enjoys spending time with his wife and son.

Senior Airman Hillary Melton

Melton is an administrative specialist with U.S. Northern Command and the North American Aerospace Defense Command at Peterson Air Force Base.

An Arizona native and high school athlete, she enlisted in the Air Force in 2011 and served at the Air Force Academy before moving to Peterson.

She's trained in knowledge management and served as the knowledge operations manager for the academy's commandant.

She lives in Colorado Springs with her family.

JUNIOR SERGEANTS

Master Cpl. Caroline G.M. Chartrand

The Canadian Air Force's Chartrand is a space control and missile warning expert with the North American Aerospace Defense Command in Colorado Springs.

At NORAD, she gives commanders timely and accurate assessments of missile and space threats .

After joining Canada's air force in 2007, she served at North Bay, Ontario, as a tracking and identification technician, watching the skies. Chartrand has also worked in air traffic control.

She lives in Peyton with her husband.

Tech. Sgt. William A. Gazzaway

Gazzaway is a cyberspace communications expert with the 21st Space Wing at Peterson Air Force Base.

A Texas native, Gazzaway joined the Air Force in 1995.

He's served in a variety of communications duties, including work as a network supervisor for the Air Force's RQ-4 Global Hawk drone. Gazzaway also served in Afghanistan where he helped maintain communications for special operations forces.

At Peterson since 2013, Gazzaway has overseen a secure telephone network, worked as the wing's top protocol sergeant and now serves as the deputy chief of infrastructure.

Over 20 years in uniform, he's earned the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Joint Service Achievement Medal and the Air Force Commendation Medal.

He's married with two children.

Staff Sgt. Oscar A. Perez

Perez is a intelligence and security manager with the Army's 1st Space Brigade at Peterson Air Force base.

A Panama native, Perez joined the Army in 2007 after attending college in Florida.

After training as an intelligence analyst, Perez was stationed at Fort Drum, N.Y., and deployed overseas twice with units from that post.

He came to Colorado in 2012 and has worked in intelligence jobs within the space brigade and its battalions.

In 2013, Perez was attached to the headquarters of the 4th Infantry Division for a deployment to Afghanistan.

Perez is working on a master's degree in intelligence studies.

Sgt. Alexis T. Smith

Smith is an ammunition specialist with Fort Carson's 4th Combat Aviation Brigade.

The California native entered the Army after high school and served in Germany with a helicopter battalion before deploying to Afghanistan. Smith was allowed to pick her next assignment upon re-enlistment and chose Fort Carson, where she was assigned to the aviation brigade.

In Colorado Springs, she's helped lead efforts to curb drunken driving at the post, leading a No DUI Prevention Team that helps soldiers find safe rides home.

She's studying for a promotion board and hopes to take college classes to train as a dental hygienist.

Staff Sgt. Brandon B. Vilt

Vilt is a training sergeant with the Army Space and Missile Defense Command at Peterson Air Force Base.

Vilt joined the Army in 2005 and deployed to Iraq in 2006, where he was severely injured when a truck rammed a concrete barrier at a checkpoint, crushing his leg.

The leg was amputated, but an artificial limb allowed Vilt to stay in uniform.

He's served as logistics instructor and deployed to Afghanistan with a Georgia-based helicopter unit.

He now runs training programs for the Army command, which runs Army space programs and the service's fleet of anti-missile systems.

SENIOR SERGEANTS

Master Sgt. Daniel P. Curtis

Curtis is a senior medical flight chief for the Air Force Reserve's 302nd Airlift Wing at Peterson Air Force Base.

He supervises 20 airmen and serves as a liaison between the wing and Fort Carson's Evans Army Community Hospital. A part-time airman, he works as a civilian paramedic at Evans, giving emergency medical care to the Fort Carson community.

He volunteers as a mentor and coach for high school students, including work with a Junior ROTC program. He's given nearly 5,000 volunteer hours in 13 years.

Master Sgt. Anthony D. Hunter

Hunter is a security forces operations superintendent with the 721st Mission Support Group at Cheyenne Mountain Air Force Station.

Hunter has served in the Air Force since 1992 and has deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan. At Cheyenne Mountain, he's a leader for forces securing the secretive underground installation.

Previously, the Utah native oversaw operations support at the mountain complex.

Sgt. 1st Class Shannan K. Sanchez

Sanchez is an operations sergeant in the 1st Space Brigade at Peterson Air Force Base.

After joining the Army, Sanchez worked as a microwave communications expert and later worked a communications expert at the White House. Her work in the Middle East supported communications for troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The Montana native has an operations sergeant in Colorado Springs since 2014, where she enjoys helping in the community and spending time with her family.

Sgt. 1st Class James A. Wills, Jr.

Wills is a senior enlisted adviser in the intelligence directorate of U.S. Northern Command.

Wills enlisted in 1999 and was trained as a clerk. He later got his college degree and retrained in intelligence. At Northern Command, Wills has worked to analyze transnational crime and was assigned to assist Mexican authorities in targeting transnational criminals.

He's married with three adult children and is pursuing a doctorate degree in business.

Tom Roeder, The gazette


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