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Airman receives senior leadership award

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Micky M. Bazaldua
  • 59th Medical Wing Pulbic Affairs
JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas --  A member of the 59th Medical Wing is the recipient of the 2011 Air Force Medical Service Senior Non-Commissioned Officer Leadership Award.

Senior Master Sgt. Lorraine A. Hieskill, superintendent of the 59th Surgical Inpatient Squadron, was recognized May 29 at the San Antonio Military Medical Center, Fort Sam Houston, by top AFMS leadership for her outstanding contributions.

Lt. Gen. (Dr.) Charles B. Green, Surgeon General of the Air Force and Chief Master Sergeant Charles R. Cole, Chief of the Medical Enlisted Force, presented the very first award of its kind to Hieskill. Other key leaders attending were Maj. Gen. (Dr.) Byron Hepburn, commander, 59th Medical Wing and Maj. Gen. Ted Wong, commander, Brooke Army Medical Center.

"I couldn't be prouder that it happened down here at the San Antonio Military Medical Center, the place where we're integrating and bringing people together," stated Green.

The prestigious honor is awarded to only one senior NCO in the medical service. In the past, the awards program cited a winner in each of the 17 medical specialty career codes.

Cole described the award as something "given to those who develop and care for Airmen and their teams."

"We have over 2,000 senior enlisted members in the U.S. medical service, and to be the number one of those is pretty telling. It's what you do every day, the integrity with which you lead, that led to you being recognized at this level," said Cole during the presentation.

Hieskill was also previously recognized by General Hepburn as the 2011 Senior NCO of the 59th Medical Wing.

"It's not about the uniform that we wear but who we bring to the fight and how we bring each other up. I couldn't be happier than in the section I work with," said Hieskill.

"The soldiers taught me everything I needed to know to take care of the other soldiers and allowed me to teach them so they could take care of our Airmen. It has been an awesome experience and I wouldn't change it for the world," she added.

"I'm proud to be here and I'm proud to be in the Air Force," added Hieskill, who is assigned to SAMMC.

Hieskill will continue her service as she prepares to take her leadership skills to the Craig Joint Theater Hospital at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.