News

The MDSS outstanding Airmen awarded

  • Published
  • By 436th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
  • Senior Airman Jared Duhon
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. --  The 436th Medical Support Squadron was awarded four team awards and two individual awards from the Air Mobility Command in 2014.

The awards include: the 2014 Outstanding Health Plan Management of the Year, the 2014 Outstanding Health Services Management Airman of the Year, the 2014 Outstanding Medical Readiness Team and the 2014 Outstanding Resource Management Team of the Year. Senior Airman Cesar Pimentel, 436th MDSS unit deployment manager won the 2014 Surgeon General's Medical Information Services award, and Airman 1st Class Sharisse Watkins, 436th MDSS pharmacy technician won the 2014 Air Force Pharmacy Technician Airman of the Year. 

"Our mission is to deliver timely, accurate and quality support with excellence, and our vision is to be a model for the execution of medical support programs," said Lt. Col. Christopher Joseph, 436th MDSS commander. "By receiving these awards, it serves as validation we are on our way to achieving our vision."

As one of the members of the readiness team, 1st Lt. Jason Madey, 436th MDSS readiness flight commander, believes that the awards give something that is important to the award winners.

"These awards provide tangible feedback for the work we do," said Madey. "Which also legitimize the contributions to the organization within the scope of  AMC and proves we are contributing."

Pimentel is a part of the readiness team, but he has also been named the 2014 Outstanding Health Services Management Airman of the year.

"I was not expecting to win," said Pimentel. "But, my leadership believing I was ready  to be entered into this category is greatly appreciated."

Vanessa Thomas-Walker is the assistant chief of medical information systems and believes awards like this endorse everything they do.

"We are the best of the best and this award proves it," said Thomas-Walker. "Information technology is a thankless job and it is nice to see what we do every day is finally validated."

Watkins won the 2014 Air Force Pharmacy Technician Airman of the Year that was won by MDSSlast year.

"I was groomed by the best," said Watkins. "The winner last year was Staff Sgt. Rhonda Russell, who is my supervisor and mentor. She definitely groomed me and placed me where I needed to be."

Watkins believes Dover AFB is not a place where people go to maintain their skills; it is where they go to excel.

"Being sent to Dover AFB is a privilege," said Watkins. "Dover makes all-star Airmen."