Cal Guard lauds top Airmen

_{Above: U.S. Air Force Maj. Jeremy Anderson, right, from the 129th Rescue Wing, receives the California Air National Guard Field Grade Officer of the Year trophy from Maj. Gen. Gregory Jones, Feb. 7, at Moffet Federal Air Field in Mountain View. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Deepak Prasad)}

by Staff Sgt. Crystal Housman
California National Guard Public Affairs

Feb. 8, 2021

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The Vince Lombardi Trophy wasn’t the only trophy hoisted in the air Sunday.

Three Cal Guard senior leaders made a whirlwind tour around the state to deliver and present minuteman trophies to the California Air National Guard’s six Outstanding Airmen of the Year and recognize nominees from each category.

U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Gregory Jones, commander of the California Air National Guard, along with Command Chief Master Sgt. Steven Pyszka, the component’s senior enlisted advisor, and U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Laura Yeager, who commands the California Army National Guard, visited four of the state’s five wings to honor the state’s top Airmen.

In the past year, Airmen across California have risen to meet unprecedented challenges.

“It seems every year we discuss how busy a year it’s been for all Airmen,” said Jones. “This year, in addition to deployments within our five wings and activations for wildfires and civil unrest, we were met with another huge challenge called COVID-19.”

“It’s a challenge our Airmen continue to battle, are they are helping California in so many ways,” he said.

Last fall, each wing named six of its own Outstanding Airmen of the Year, who then competed against one another for statewide honors.

Minuteman trophies, which are traditionally presented during the California Military Department’s Service Member of the Year Banquet, were presented locally during drill weekend as an alternative to large gatherings during the ongoing pandemic.

“We agreed it was important to present these award in person to each of our winners,” said Pyszka, who serves as state air division's top enlisted Airman.

The winners are:

Airman of the Year
Staff Sgt. Tamara Frankie
163d Attack Wing

Noncommissioned Officer of the Year
Master Sgt. Bryson Barnette
129th Rescue Wing

1st Sgt. of the Year
Senior Master Sgt. Angel Torres
163d Attack Wing

Senior Noncommissioned of the Year
Master Sgt. James McGowen
146th Airlift Wing

Company Grade Officer of the Year
Capt. Jim Kane
144th Fighter Wing

Field Grade Officer of the Year
Maj. Jeremy Anderson
129th Rescue Wing

Though only six of the state’s nearly 5,000 Airmen will move on to compete at the next higher level, every Airman made an impact in 2020, Pyszka said.

“Even if a few select Airmen received trophies, all California Air National Guard Airmen have done, and continue to do, amazing things every day for the citizens of California and the United States of America,” he said.

State winners advance to compete nationally for top honors in the Air National Guard with a chance to vie for U.S. Air Force honors as one of its twelve Outstanding Airmen.