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Explosive ordnance disposal chosen Air Force Team of Year

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WASHINGTON (AFNS) --  Officials from the Air Force and the Air Force Association named explosive ordnance disposal as the 2009 Team of the Year March 20 here.

Each year, the AFA, working with major command-level command chief master sergeants and the Office of the Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force, selects a specific Air Force career field for this recognition.

The individual members selected to represent the chosen career field are professionals who clearly display superior technical expertise, attract the praise of their superiors and provide leadership and inspiration to others.

The following individuals, representing the EOD career field for this year's award are:
-- Senior Master Sgt. Gus Hamilton III, a civil engineer assigned to the 835th Civil Engineer Squadron as the EOD superintendent at Ramstein Air Base, Germany.
-- Technical Sgt. Heath Tempel, an EOD craftsman assigned to the 354th Civil Engineer Squadron as NCO in charge of the EOD Flight Operations at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska.
-- Staff Sgt. Phillip Dyer, an EOD craftsman assigned to the 325th Civil Engineer Squadron EOD Flight at Tyndall AFB, Fla.
-- Senior Airman Cooper Gibson, an EOD journeyman assigned to the 4th Civil Engineer Squadron at Seymour Johnson AFB, N.C.
-- Senior Airman Jasmine Nakayama, an EOD journeyman in the 75th Air Base Wing at Hill AFB, Utah.

"Every Airman can be proud of our fellow warriors in the EOD community and the tremendous job they are doing around the globe," said Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Rodney J. McKinley. "Their dedication, skill and determination are securing and protecting the lives of fellow Airmen, Marines, Soldiers, Sailors and coalition forces every day."

Five Airmen are selected each year to represent their profession in the presentation ceremony in Washington, D.C. While in D.C., the Airmen tour the Capitol and other sites, meet senior Air Force and Congressional leaders, and accept awards on behalf of their career field at a ceremony hosted by the AFA. This year's ceremony is scheduled for April 6.

In the recent past, the Air Force Office of Special Investigations, expeditionary medics, services, vehicle operators, and command and control were recognized as the team of the year.