Armed Forces Persons of the Year Recognized Print E-mail
This morning, members of the business community and military leaders recognized the Armed Forces Persons of the Year at the Doubletree Hotel. Lieutenant General Dana T. Atkins, the senior military officer in Alaska, was the keynote speaker.


The nominees:

Guard/Reserve Category, Junior Enlisted
• Senior Airman Terran Echegoyen-McCabe, Washington Air National Guard
• Hospital Corpsman Second Class Johnny Gay, United States Navy Reserve
• Information Technician Second Class Dion D. Haught, United States Navy Reserve
• Sergeant Samuel P. Lomasney, United States Marine Corps Reserve

Winner: Sergeant Samuel P. Lomasney, United States Marine Corps Reserve
Sergeant Lomasney is a Reserve member of "Papa" Battery, 5th Battalion, 14th Marines in Spokane, Washington, where he is currently a Howitzer Section Chief, responsible for the safe movement, emplacement and firing of the howitzer system. In his civilian life, Sergeant Lomasney is a full-time student at Washington State University in the Department of Chemistry. His research on developing methods for cleaning up nuclear waste in soils was recently published in the prestigious Journal of Environmental Science and Technology. He was elected to the WSU Student Body Senate and was appointed to the NCAA sub-committee on student athlete gender, well-being and diversity. Read more on Sergeant Samuel P. Lomasney.

Guard/Reserve Category, Senior Enlisted
• Machinist's Mate First Class Glenn E. Brumley, United States Navy Reserve
• Technical Sergeant William Haley, Washington Air National Guard

Winner: Technical Sergeant William Haley, Washington Air National Guard
Technical Sergeant William Haley is an Aerospace Medical Services Craftsman with the Air National Guard. Technical Sergeant Haley was handpicked for this crucial medical leader job due to his outstanding background as a combat tested medic and civilian business professional. Technical Sergeant Haley has provided NATO Level II Enhanced Combat Care to more than 6,000 U.S. and Coalition forces, given care to more than 50 ambulance transports, 150 traumas, and 200 post surgical patients. While voluntarily deployed in Afghanistan, Technical Sergeant Haley completed nine credits toward a nursing degree. Read more on Technical Sergeant William Haley.

Active Duty Category, Junior Enlisted
• Culinary Specialist Second Class Demontray Braswell, United States Navy
• Sergeant Amber V. Cross, United States Marine Corps
• Operational Specialist Second Class Jerome Laupapa, United States Navy
• Staff Sergeant Scott A. Millisor, United States Air Force
• Logistics Specialist Third Class Douglas A. Ritchey, United States Navy
• Senior Airman Jake Rutledge, United States Air Force

Winner: Culinary Specialist Second Class Demontray Braswell, United States Navy
Petty Officer Second Class Braswell serves as the Command Training Representative, directly responsible for the establishment of a training plan for more than 200 sailors managing an annual budget of $600,000. Braswell is heavily relied upon to maintain all computer equipment at the NOSC, and to troubleshoot any problems. Petty Officer Second Class Braswell expertly managed a technical refresh, resulting in upgrading more than 40 computers and monitors. Read more on Petty Officer Second Class Demontray Braswell.

Active Duty Category, Senior Enlisted
• Store Keeper First Class Matthew Gay, United States Navy
• Master Sergeant Rusty E. Hayes, United States Air Force
• Master Sergeant Jose A. Nevarez, United States Air Force
• Gunnery Sergeant Jack L. Shumate, United States Marine Corps
• Boatswain's Mate First Class Tamra Ward, United States Navy

Winner: Boatswain's Mate First Class Tamra Ward, United States Navy
Petty Officer First Class Tamra Ward is currently the NOSC Spokane Leading Petty Officer. She is considered one of the top active duty officers. Currently, she works to oversee the administrative, medical, dental and training support of more than 200 Reservists. She was one of the first six women to drive the USS John C. Stennis Nuclear Powered Aircraft Carrier. Petty Officer Ward is currently pursuing her Bachelor of Science in Human Resources and recently completed her Expeditionary Warfare qualification in only nine months (it usually takes 12 months). Read more on Petty Officer First Class Tamra Ward.