JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas --
The 37th Training Wing nominees of the 2020 Lance P. Sijan Leadership Award were recognized during an award ceremony at the Gateway Club on Joint Base San Antonio Lackland, Texas, July 29, 2020. This distinguished honor is awarded to Airmen who demonstrated the highest qualities of leadership across the Air Force.
Winners were announced by the surviving younger sister of Sijan, Janine Sijan-Rozina, via a zoom call into the event. The 2020 Lance P. Sijan Leadership Award recipients for the Gateway Wing are:
Senior Officer Category – Maj Jordan Clark
Junior Officer Category – Capt Whitney Quinn
Senior Enlisted Category – Master Sgt. Keyla Watt
Junior Enlisted Category – Technical Sgt. Benjamin Johnson
Those in attendance had the opportunity to watch a screening of SIJAN: A Quest for Freedom, a feature length documentary exploring capt Sijan's life and legacy. The viewing was followed by a question and answer session with Janine Sijan-Rozina.
One 37 TRW winner, Capt Whitney J. Quinn, 737th Training Group, continues on to compete at the 2nd Air Force level of the award.
See more about Sijan here.
Below is a complete list of all 37 TRW nominees sorted by group:
Inter American Air Force's Academy
| Tech. Sgt. Jonathan Avila |
| Master Sgt. Keyla Watt |
| Capt. Jason Mag |
| Lt. Col. Vrettos Notaras |
737th Training Group, Basic Military Training
| Staff Sgt. Sylvia Black |
| Master Sgt. Kendra Bossard |
| Tech. Sgt. Ashley Lexvold |
| Master Sgt. William Everett |
| Tech. Sgt. Megan Suter |
| Master Sgt. Bryant Felton |
| Tech. Sgt. Christopher Berg |
| Master Sgt. Shaun Dube |
| Staff Sgt. Steve Shorter |
| Master Sgt. Mark Gillett |
| Tech. Sgt. Lee Fast |
| Master Sgt. Joshua Dendy |
| Tech. Sgt Jaris Hasty-Milton |
| Master Sgt. Kristina Decot |
| Tech. Sgt. Anthony Espino |
| Master Sgt. Dominic Wimsatt |
| Tech. Sgt. Genesis Infante |
| Master Sgt. Hubert Johns |
| Tech. Sgt. Elisa Panek |
| Master Sgt. Lioel Garcia |
| Capt. Whitney Quinn |
| Maj. Joseph Harris |
| Capt. Landrick Dixon |
| Capt. Jose Rodriguez |
| Capt. Tasha Roach |
| Maj. Karyn Argueta |
| Capt. Brandy Dorrough |
| Maj. Brandon Kalski |
| Capt. Daniel Keel |
| 1st Lt. Keith Jones |
| Maj. Christopher Robey |
| Capt. Franklin Eason |
| Lt. Col. Benjamin Werner, |
Defense Language Institute English Language Center
| Tech. Sgt. Michael A. Janzen |
37th Training Group - Technical Training
| Senior Master Sgt. Danny Hayter Jr. |
| Tech. Sgt. Morgan Grebens |
| Maj Tate Grogan |
| Tech. Sgt. Stephen Nores |
| Master Sgt. Samantha Maghamez |
| Master Sgt. Timothy Franseen |
| Tech. Sgt. Benjamin Johnson |
| Capt. Chad Jessup |
| Maj. Jordan Clark |
| Tech. Sgt. Ryan Timm |
| Master Sgt. Chantal Gabaldon |
| Staff Sgt. Leanne Fulkerson |
| Master Sgt. Devon Miller |
* * *
The U.S. Air Force Lance P. Sijan Leadership Award was first was established in 1981 as a way to distinguish Airmen who have demonstrated the highest qualities of leadership in both their job and way of life. Today, the Sijan Leadership Award is one of the most prestigious Air Force awards. Capt. Sijan, who’s Douglas A-1 Skyraider (formerly AD Skyraider) was shot down over Vietnam, fight until his last breath as a POW. Sijan is the only Air Force Academy Medal of Honor recipient.