Two Luke SFS Airmen stand out

  • Published
  • By Justin Oakes
  • 56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  The Air Force recognized two Thunderbolts from the 56th Security Forces Squadron in December for their exceptional performance and accomplishments. 

Capt. Ryan Robin and Master Sgt. Chad Lewis garnered the 2008 Outstanding Security Forces Air Reserve Component Award both in the company grade officer and senior NCO categories. 

"It's very humbling and I'm especially grateful," said Captain Robin. 

Captain Robin, a Warren, R.I. native, currently serves as Individual Mobilization Augmentee to the commander and subsequently is the recipient of the Outstanding Security Forces Air Reserve Component Award two years in a row. 

It is nice to be recognized in a public forum, but it is not just me that earned this award, Captain Robin said. 

"The award is a direct result of all the people I work with and their dedication to the Air Force mission to ensure the job gets done right." 

Captain Robin returned from a six-month tour to Iraq in June where he was deployed as a battle captain with the 179th Infantry Battalion. While there, he commanded multiple fly-away security teams where coalition forces secured and transferred more than 5,000 detainees without incident, and led 30 detainee transfers over 3,000 convoy miles with more than 13,000 detainees and without any escapes or casualties. 

Of the many factors associated with this award, Captain Robin identified leadership as a main component. 

"Leadership is a general concern for all Airmen," Captain Robin said. "It is critical that Airmen receive strong leadership at all times whether it is at your home station or overseas." 

Other accomplishments include working directly with the Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force, capturing four "high valued individuals", leading responses to six rocket attacks, directing security during a French fighter squadron visit to Luke Air Force Base, coordinating a joint fund raiser between Make-A-Wish Foundation and the base, and volunteering in the community by organizing projects with a local area Cub Scout Pack. 

Master Sgt. Chad Lewis is also a recipient of the Outstanding Security Forces Air Reserve Component of the Year Award. 

He is a native of Newbury Park, Calif., currently serves as a joint-force counter terrorism team member at Luke, and is also a sergeant with the Los Angeles Police Department. 

"I attribute the award to the many exceptional men and women of the security forces squadron," said Sergeant Lewis. "Without their support and dedicated efforts, I couldn't have done it." 

Sergeant Lewis' qualifications and expertise lended the Arizona Governor's office to hand select him from over 320 terrorism liaison officers to run a terror watch center during a nuclear security evaluation. He also received praise from the Federal Bureau of Investigation for logging in more than 300 hours at the terror watch center where he gathered information for 132 Phoenix counter-terrorism operations. 

Sergeant Lewis also designed and implemented a base traffic safety program that resulted in lowering the number of automobile accidents on Luke significantly. 

The award also reflects Sergeant Lewis' ability to effectively train and mentor other security forces members and emergency personnel, whether it be Luke Airmen or local area responders. 

"Being a good leader also means being a good motivator," Sergeant Lewis said. "This is where the service-before-self principle is important, and an effective leader must remember to put the needs of their Airmen before their own." 

Sergeant Lewis helped integrate 82 Department of the Air Force guards into base security and trained 22 of them on how to effectively perform base patrols. Other training accomplishments include instructing four state police officers and firefighters in terror watch center operations. 

"Receiving this award is an honor," Sergeant Lewis said. "But, the award really belongs to all the Airmen of the fifty-sixth Security Forces Squadron." 

The award also reflects Sergeant Lewis' volunteer service which includes coaching in the American Youth Soccer Organization and raising funds for Aspen Elementary School through a recycling program. 

Both Captain Robin and Sergeant Lewis are scheduled to travel to San Antonio in April where they will be presented their awards.