News

McChord Reservists maintain excellence with distinguished award

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Rachael Garneau
  • 446th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
MCCHORD FIELD, Wash. --  Air Force Reserve Command recognizes two 446th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron Reservists for their outstanding hands-on maintenance work.

Staff Sgt. Francis Aguon and Mr. Michael Harris are 2011 recipients of the Lieutenant General Leo Marquez Award in the Aircraft Maintenance category. An awards board of air and joint staff maintenance managers chose Aguon and Harris as winners of the Technician and Civilian Technician categories, respectively.

"I'm flattered," said Aguon, who works as an aircraft maintenance technician. "My mind was on Airman Leadership School and pinning on staff sergeant, plus I just got my (career development course books) and now I'm focused on that. The award was definitely a surprise!"

Aguon, a Reservist since 2007, is pursuing his goal of accruing more points for his Post-9/11 G.I. Bill with temporary duty assignments and deployments, and completing his 7-level CDC's. He earned his nomination for the Marquez Award thanks to his maintenance work in Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, supporting Operation New Dawn and Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa.

Harris, who also serves as a Reserve technical sergeant, works as a propulsion Air Reserve technician. His expertise during Operation Deep Freeze, Antarctica, along with some skillful troubleshooting during a TDY to Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, garnered him the AFRC recognition.

"I had known that I had been selected at the 4th Air Force level, but was shocked to hear I had won at the AFRC. That's pretty awesome," said Harris. "My bosses sure do know how to write!"

The central point of the Marquez Award is to honor Air Force members, both military and civilian, who excel in technological maintenance. The individual's job performance, application of knowledge on the job site, and workplace efficiency are all considered.

The award was named for retired Lt. Gen. Leo Marquez, Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics and Engineering, whose 33-years of dedication to the maintenance and logistics career field revolutionized the way they do business. Gen. Marquez passed away Dec. 30, 2011, at 79.

The 446th Airlift Wing will recognize both Aguon and Harris at the Annual Awards Banquet in March.