2016 Air Force Outstanding Airmen of the Year

Air Force officials have selected the service’s top enlisted members, naming the 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year for 2016.

An Air Force selection board at the Air Force Personnel Center considered 36 nominees who represented major commands, direct reporting units, field operating agencies and Headquarters Air Force. The board selected 12 Airmen based on superior leadership, job performance and personal achievements.

12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year (by command of assignment when selected, alphabetically):

Tech. Sgt. Michael A. Asuncion, Jr., Air Force Space Command
Tech. Sgt. Sharry L. Barnshaw, Air Mobility Command
Senior Airman Raquel R. Caramanno, Air Force Materiel Command
Tech. Sgt. Cassandra L. Cruz, Air Education and Training Command
Senior Master Sgt. Mark E. Farmer, Air National Guard
Senior Airman Jasmin N. Figueroa, Pacific Air Forces
Senior Master Sgt. Jeremiah F. Grisham, Air Force District of Washington
Master Sgt. Marcus A. Mader, Air Force Special Operations Command
Senior Master Sgt. Rebecca F. McNelley, Air Force Global Strike Command
Senior Airman Derek F. Miles, U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa
Staff Sgt. Aaron M. Tobler, Air Force Reserve Command
Staff Sgt. Jamie K. Zimmer, Air Combat Command

Among these elite twelve is TSgt Cassandra Cruz, whose home of record is Hau‘ula, Hawai‘i. Her commendation reads:

TSgt. Cassandra Cruz, a professional military education instructor with the 81st Force Support Squadron at Keesler AFB, Miss., is one of the Air Force’s 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year for 2016. Cruz aided the Total Force Integration initiative by educating 113 Active Duty, Air National Guard, and Air Force Reserve Command leaders, facilitating 1,000 hours of instruction. She identified credential shortfalls for her primary Air Force specialty code and aligned civilian requirements with the Career Field Education and Training Plan, enabling the expansion of seven additional certifications available to over 2,000 airmen. As a base victim advocate, she dedicated 1,300 hours to the Sexual Assault Prevention and Response program, serving as a first responder and trainer for base personnel. She was recognized as a distinguished graduate from the Archibald Mathies NCO Academy’s Intermediate Leadership Experience.

Learn more about the 2016 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year