JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md. -- Air National Guard Command Chief, Chief Master Sgt. Ron Anderson Jr., announced the Air National Guard 2019 Outstanding Airmen of the Year.
Each year, the ANG and United States Air Force recognize the Airmen who represent the pinnacle of the Air Force core values of integrity, service before self and excellence in all things.
“This year’s Outstanding Airmen of the Year award recipients are representative of the best and brightest of a truly remarkable Air National Guard enlisted corps," said Anderson. “These Airmen embody the characteristics of the great leaders, followers and teammates that make the Air National Guard the ready force that we are today.”
“The selection process was not easy with so many highly qualified and deserving individuals in our Air National Guard,” said Lt. Gen. L. Scott Rice, Air National Guard director. “The abundance of professionalism and talent in all the nominations speaks volumes to the character and devotion of all Guard Airmen.”
The honorees, selected from across the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam and the Virgin Islands, are: Airman 1st Class Kaleigh Bevan, 184th Intelligence Wing, Kansas ANG; Tech. Sgt. Andrew Merrylees, 166th Airlift Wing, Delaware ANG; Master Sgt. Mark Jurakovich, 148th Fighter Wing, Minnesota ANG, recently transferred to the 166th AW Delaware ANG; and Senior Master Sgt. Rachel Landegent, 161st Air Refueling Wing, Arizona ANG.