Air Force officials name 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year Published July 2, 2009 RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- Air Force officials have selected the service's top enlisted members, naming the 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year for 2009. An Air Force selection board at the Air Force Personnel Center here considered 33 nominees who represented major commands, direct reporting units, field operating agencies and Air Staff agencies. The board selected the 12 based on superior leadership, job performance and personal achievements. The nominees are authorized to wear the Outstanding Airman of the Year ribbon, while the 12 winners will wear the bronze service star device on the ribbon. The winners will also wear the Outstanding Airman of the Year Badge for one year from the date of formal presentation. The winners are: Staff Sgt. Johanna Aviles, Los Angeles Air Force Base, Calif. Senior Master Sgt. Mary Bechdel, Royal Air Force Molesworth, England Master Sgt. Tyrone Bingham, Offutt AFB, Neb. Senior Airman Channel Bolton-Scholl, McChord AFB, Wash. Tech. Sgt. John Carter, RAF Mildenhall, England Tech. Sgt. Manuel Herrera, Scott AFB, Ill. Tech. Sgt. Benjamin Horton, Hill AFB, Utah Tech. Sgt. Jennifer Laufer, Maxwell AFB, Ala. Tech. Sgt. Marisol Lozada, Cannon AFB, N.M. Master Sgt. Christopher Pollock, Kadena Air Base, Japan Senior Airman Alexander Royal, Peterson AFB, Colo. Senior Master Sgt. Jeffery Steagall, Peterson AFB, Colo. The Air Force Association will honor the 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year during its Air and Space Conference and Technology Exposition in Washington, D.C., this September. The Airmen will also serve as members of the AFA's enlisted advisory council for the next year.