VANDENBERG SPACE FORCE BASE, Calif. –
Space Forces - Space recognized its top performers in the year 2024 and hosted a senior leadership conference here, May 6-7.
Twenty outstanding Warfighters from across S4S, including Delta 5, the National Space Defense Center, and the Joint Navigation Warfare Center, were selected as annual award winners after a rigorous competition.
The award winners participated in a professional development experience at Vandenberg, designed to broaden their understanding of the diverse missions within Vandenberg SFB. This immersive opportunity aimed to enhance their tactical, operational, and strategic expertise, enabling them to more effectively integrate, assess, and execute space operations in support of combatant commanders, coalition partners, the joint force, and national objectives.
The selection of the award winners was conducted by panels comprised of officers, enlisted personnel, and civilian employees from throughout the command. Twelve categories of awards were presented, recognizing exceptional performance throughout the last year.
"These award winners represent the very best of S4S. Their accomplishments throughout 2024 demonstrate remarkable success, dedication, and invaluable contributions to the S4S team," said Lt. Gen. Douglas A. Schiess, commander, U.S. Space Forces - Space, and United States Space Command’s Combined Joint Force Space Component commander. "Their efforts directly enhance our mission to Protect, Defend, Deliver, and Connect."
Concurrently, S4S hosted a leadership conference for senior leaders and staff. The conference featured guided discussions and a table-top exercise led by U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. (ret.) Jay Santee, former deputy director of the Defense Threat Reduction Agency.
The leadership conference served as a critical touchpoint for senior leaders and command staff to address challenges, receive mission updates, and collaborate on solutions to common problems, all in support of the S4S mission.
2024 Space Forces Space Award Winners:
|
Category
|
Winner
|
Unit
|
|
Junior-Tier Enlisted
(E1-E4)
|
Spc4 Eleanor Chan
|
Delta 5
|
|
Mid-Tier Enlisted
(E5-E6)
|
TSgt Isaias Marianigastaliturri
|
Delta 5
|
|
Senior-Tier Enlisted
(E7-E8, E6 USMC)
|
MSgt Ryan Horner
|
Staff
|
|
Junior-Tier Officer
(O1-O3)
|
Capt Cynthia Burket
|
Staff
|
|
Senior-Tier Officer
(O4-O5)
|
Lt Col Christopher Ewald
|
Staff
|
|
Reserve Component Enlisted
(E1-E8)
|
TSgt Joshua Cheney
|
Staff
|
|
Reserve Component Officer
(O1-O5)
|
1Lt Markus T. Wilkes
|
NSDC
|
|
Junior-Tier Civilian
(NH-1-2, NJ-1-3, NK-1-3, GS_GG 01-11)
|
Honore Brewer
|
NSDC
|
|
Senior-Tier Civilian
(NH-3-4, NJ-4, GS_GG 12-14)
|
Mr. Brian R. Pike
|
NSDC
|
|
Senior-Tier Civilian Supervisor
(NH-3-4, NJ-4, GS_GG 12-14)
|
Mr. Chris Martinez
|
Staff
|
|
Operator
|
Capt Alexander D. Knight
|
Delta 5
|
|
Operations Crew
|
Delta 5–Echo Crew
|
Delta 5
|
|
Team Award
|
JNWC—USEUCOM-USAFRICOM TNWCC
|
JNWC
|
|
Innovation
|
JNWC—GREYHOUND Team
|
JNWC
|