Air Force photograph by Ethan WagnerLeft to right: Brig. Gen. Carl Schaefer, 412th Test Wing commander, presents the 2015 Airman of the Year award to Senior Airman Raquel R. Caramanno, 412th Medical Group, along with Chief Master Sgt. David Smith, 412th TW command chief, and Danny Bazzell, field representative for Military and Veterans Affairs for the late California State Senator Sharon Runner.Caramanno has since gone on to be named one of the Air Forces 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year.
Air Force officials have selected the service’s top enlisted members, naming the 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year for 2016.
Included in the 12 is SrA. Raquel R. Caramanno of the 412th Medical Group at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif.
In February 2016, Caramanno was named Airman of the Year for the 412th Test Wing at Edwards. She then competed for Air Force Materiel Command airman of the year, which she was awarded in March 2016. This put her into the competition for the Air Force 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year
According to her nomination package, as a Medical Readiness Technician, Caramanno expertly filled in as the Medical Readiness Flight Commander and Noncommissioned Officer in Charge for a period of 15 months, leveraging a 50 percent workload increase despite a 50 percent staff loss. Additionally, she flawlessly led 17 Medical Contingency Response teams while managing $1 million in War Reserve Materiel assets.
An Air Force selection board at the Air Force Personnel Center considered 36 nominees who represented major commands, direct reporting units, field operating agencies and Headquarters Air Force. The board selected 12 Airmen based on superior leadership, job performance and personal achievements.
The other 12 airmen are:
TSgt. Michael A. Asuncion, Jr., Air Force Space Command
TSgt. Sharry L. Barnshaw, Air Mobility Command
TSgt. Cassandra L. Cruz, Air Education and Training Command
SMSgt. Mark E. Farmer, Air National Guard
SrA. Jasmin N. Figueroa, Pacific Air Forces
SMSgt. Jeremiah F. Grisham, Air Force District of Washington
MSgt. Marcus A. Mader, Air Force Special Operations Command
SMSgt. Rebecca F. McNelley, Air Force Global Strike Command
SrA. Derek F. Miles, U.S. Air Forces in Europe
SSgt. Aaron M. Tobler, Air Force Reserve Command
SSgt. Jamie K. Zimmer, Air Combat Command
The winners are authorized to wear the Outstanding Airman of the Year ribbon with the bronze service star device on the ribbon. They are also authorized to wear the Outstanding Airman of the Year badge for one year from the date of formal presentation.
