Sergeant brings home manpower of the year award

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Oshawn Jefferson
  • 39th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey --  U.S. Air Forces in Europe recently announced the winners of the command's 2006 Manpower and Organization Awards for Professional Excellence and Tech. Sgt. Dana Bridges, 39th Mission Support Squadron manpower analyst, was named noncommissioned officer of the year.

"The award came as a total surprise," said Sergeant Bridges, who has been at Incirlik since May of 2005. "I am truly humbled by this award."

Sergeant Bridges was recognized for outstanding contributions in transforming the command organizationally and resolving significant manpower funding issues.

"I'm especially proud of the nonessential work studies we did that tied into Air Force Smart Operations 21," said Sergeant Bridges. "When (COMUSAFE) asked for our recommendations, we were ready and I was proud of the work our team did as a whole."
Individual nominations for the award were based on leadership and management abilities reflected in outstanding job performance. Individuals were also evaluated on significant job accomplishments, contributions to mission effectiveness, significant self-improvements and positive representation of the Air Force.

"Being new to the office, I've sat back and watched (Sergeant) Bridges display a work ethic second to none," said Master Sgt. Michael T. Summers, 39th Mission Support Squadron manpower and organization superintendent. "Coming into the office with a new office chief as well, she has been the cornerstone of a fantastic manpower team with an obvious insatiable desire to achieve results."

Sergeant Bridges will now compete for the best manpower and organization noncommissioned officer award at the Air Force level.

"Best thing about her though is that she never 'went after' recognition, she went about to secure 'mission accomplishment' for her office, unit, wing, and base," said Sergeant Summers. "My poor words don't do her justice considering the great honor she received, but I hope to 'lean on and learn' a great deal from her over the coming months. We are all so very proud of her."

"Anything I accomplish as an individual is a team effort," said Sergeant Bridges. "They are the backbone and I'll be proud to represent them at the Air Force level."