349th Reservist Named As Air Force Outstanding Airman of the Year Published June 27, 2006 349th Air Mobility Wing TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- The Air Force has selected the service's top enlisted members and named Senior Airman Eric J. Pena, assigned to the 349th Air Mobility Wing’s Security Forces Squadron, as one of the 12 Outstanding Airman of the Year for 2006. An Air Force selection board at the Air Force Personnel Center considered 33 nominees who represented major commands, direct reporting units, field operating agencies and air staff agencies. The board convened in May and selected the 12 based on superior leadership, job performance and personal achievements. Airmen Pena’s performance during dangerous and demanding missions was the reason he was selected as one of the 12 Outstanding Airman of the Year. Airmen Pena recently returned from a volunteer six-month deployment to Baghdad, Iraq, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, where he was part of the Multi-National Detainee Operations Team. During his deployment, Airmen Pena served as a turret gunner on convoy movements within greater Baghdad. Airmen Pena’s professionalism was recognized as outstanding. When he was detailed to the Central Criminal Court of Iraq U.S. Embassy, he proved himself an exceptional Airmen, lauded for duty performance “Above and Beyond” by his supervisors at the embassy. The 12 winners will wear the bronze service star device on the ribbon. The winners will also wear the Outstanding Airman Badge for one year from the date of formal presentation, which will be during the Air Force Association Air and Space Conference and Technology Exposition in Washington D.C. in September. Winners will also serve as members of the AFA's enlisted advisory council for the next year.