Academy senior NCO receives Bronze Star

  • Published
  • By Ray Bowden
  • U.S. Air Force Academy Public Affairs
U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. --  An Academy firefighter received a Bronze Star Medal here Feb. 3 for his actions while deployed to the 438th Air Expeditionary Wing, Kabul, Afghanistan.

That medal is awarded to members of the U.S. armed forces for meritorious service in a combat zone.

Master Sgt. Jeff Hackworth was the 438th AEW's Joint Engineering and Fire-Emergency Response Programs superintendent from July 2013 to July 2014. He managed all Afghan Ministry of Defense fire departments; took part in more than 30 convoy missions in hostile areas to train Afghan firefighters; managed more than $23 million in resources and 86 firefighters; developed training curriculum and played a direct role in the capture of terrorists.

"Being able to work with such a great team to create (training programs) for the firefighters of Afghanistan, and to change the mindset that being a firefighter is a truly noble profession instead of just a job, is something I'm really proud of," Hackworth said.

Hackworth said witnessing the improvements of the Afghan firefighters was a "remarkable experience."

"When our NATO partners and sister services requested our team advisors by name to help train their firefighters, we knew the program was a success," he said.
Lt. Col. Jose Rivera-Hernandez, the 10th Civil Engineer Squadron commander, presented Hackworth with the Bronze Star Medal. 

"I was honored to give that medal to Master Sergeant Hackworth," he said. "For a firefighter to do everything he did while deployed is a very significant achievement. He's a role model for Airmen and an example of everything they can accomplish throughout their Air Force careers."

Hackworth, a native of Jackson, Mich., is assigned to the 10th CES Emergency Services Flight. Specifically, he's the Academy's assistant fire chief and the 10th CES superintendent. 

"To say 'being a firefighter is great career' is an understatement," he said. "I've had opportunities to do things I never could have imagined."