Three MDG Airmen receive Air Force awards

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Heather Stanton
  • 39th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey --  Three 39th Medical Group Airmen were notified by their respective commanders Nov. 1 that they had each been selected by the Air Force Medical Service Surgeon General as 2007 Air Force Medical Services Awards winners.

While each has yet to receive their official award, certificates will be mailed to each winner after Feb. 1. Master Sgt. Karen Horvath, 39th Medical Operations Squadron Public Health noncommissioned officer in-charge, received the Col. Cleveland Parker Senior NCO of the Year award, Capt. Sean McNamara, 39th Medical Support Squadron chief of diagnostics and therapeutics, received the Fred Coleman award, and Capt. Cang Bui, 39th Medical Operations Squadron chief of optometry services, was recognized as the Col. P. Timothy Ray Company Grade Officer Optometrist of the Year.

The Col. Cleveland Parker award is given specifically to senior NCOs in the public health career field, the Fred Coleman Award is given to the Air Force's top company grade officer pharmacist and the Col. P. Timothy Ray Company Grade Officer of the Year award recognizes the Air Force's top CGO optometrist.

All three award winner were involved in numerous extra duties and off-duty activities.

Sergeant Horvath currently serves as the Incirlik Top-3 Council president, temporary first sergeant and as the 39th Air Base Wing's enlisted career assistance advisor.

Captain McNamara's leadership appears to have played a key role in their 2007 Health Services Inspection as results of the inspection show that the pharmacy did not receive any negative "write-ups."

Captain McNamara also serves Incirlik as 39 MDSS chief of radiology and pharmacy and 39 MDG executive officer.

Captain Bui's optometry clinic was rated as number 1 in the Air Force for ensuring gas mask bifocal inserts were available to all Incirlik Airmen required to wear them. Captain Bui also attained more than $130,000 in equipment upgrades and graduated from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration flight surgeon course, a credential only nine other optometrists can claim.

Though each award recipient's individual actions were recognized, all say they share Captain McNamara's sentiment that their individual awards were the result of a team effort.

"I had mixed emotions when I found out about the award," said Captain McNamara. "It's great to be recognized, but I had hoped we would win the pharmacy team award because I know I couldn't have done it without my team members."

Col. Kimberly Cox, 39 MDG commander agrees with Captain McNamara.

"It always takes a team, but individual performance is valuable to the team and the success of the organization," she said. "These three outstanding medics influence our entire 39 MDG team to excel in the delivery of full spectrum healthcare each and every day. I am very honored to work with such outstanding representatives of the Air Force Medical Service."