EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif -- Headquarters Air Force Materiel Command Commander Gen Ellen Pawlikowski hosted an annual awards banquet for Headquarters Air Force Materiel Command Calendar Year 2017 annual excellence award winners, including five from the Air Force Test Center. These winners included: Senior Non-Commissioned Officer Category, SMSgt Matthew E. Hose, 96th Maintenance Group, Eglin AFB, FL; in the First Sergeant Category, MSgt Vanessa Brown, 412th Test Wing, Edwards AFB, CA; in the Field Grade Officer Category, Maj Kelly J. Mattie, 96th Test Wing, Eglin AFB, FL; in the Civilian Category I, Bruce R. Ehrenberger, 96th Civil Engineer Squadron, Eglin AFB, FL; and in the Civilian Category II, Robert L. Daniels, 96th Logistics Readiness Squadron, Eglin AFB, FL. Winners in the four enlisted categories represented AFMC in the United States Air Force Twelve Outstanding Airmen of the Year and First Sergeant of the Year competitions held later in 2018.
The last Air Force Test Center Enlisted winner was SSgt. RAQUEL R. CARAMANNO Medical Readiness Technician 412th Medical Support Squadron Edwards AFB, Calif. Home of Record: Staten Island, N.Y. As a senior airman, Caramanno was instrumental in leveraging a 50 percent staff loss while flawlessly managing 17 medical contingency response teams and $1 million in war reserve materiel. Her attention to detail drove “Outstanding” test wing ratings in the Air Force Input Tool; Defense Readiness Reporting System; Air Expeditionary Force Reporting Tool; and Emergency Management programs. As the chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear program manager, Caramanno directed a 42 percent capability surge, leading to $40,000 in modernization upgrades to critical assets. She identified a pandemic-influenza shortfall, resulting in the procurement of $26,000 in protective equipment, ensuring the operational integrity of $895,000 in allowance standards. Finally, her dedication to excellence culminated in her selection as the 2015 Air Force Medical Service Health Services Management Airman of the Year.