Academy Airmen nominated for Sijan Award

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Rachel Hammes
  • Academy Public Affairs
U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. --  Four Academy Airmen have been nominated to receive the 2014 Lance P. Sijan Leadership Award.

Lt. Col. Daniel J. Watola, Social Science Division assistant chair, 1st Lt. Camillo Perrotta, 10th Security Forces Squadron, Academy Military Trainers Master Sgt. Debra Sheppard and Tech. Sgt. Jason Jones, will compete against other Airmen for the award recognizing Airmen demonstrating the highest quality of leadership, according to award guidelines.

The nominees are rated on their scope of responsibility, professional leadership, leadership image and community involvement in the senior officer, junior officer, senior enlisted and junior enlisted categories.

The Sijan Award was first presented in 1981, honoring Capt. Lance P. Sijan, the first Academy graduate to receive the Medal of Honor. Sijan was shot down over Vietnam Nov. 9, 1967, evaded enemy forces for 45 days despite injuries, and later died in a Vietnamese prisoner of war camp. He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for heroism.

Watola said his nomination is likely due in part to the "challenging and compelling mission" he experienced during a recent deployment to Afghanistan where he was assigned to a team advising the Afghan Ministry of Interior on security issues.

"When you have an important job, and work 12-14 hour days, seven days a week, with few distractions, you can really accomplish a lot in one year," he said. "I am amazed and proud of the many things I was able to do for the Coalition and the people of Afghanistan. The relatively safe and secure elections this May were a great exclamation point on my deployment."

Perrotta credits his recognition to the 10th SFS NCO corps.

"Without the NCO corps here, young officers would struggle to find successes within their mission-set," he said. "My perspective is that any of my successes are because of the hard work of the Airmen. The guidance and mentorship I receive from the senior NCOs definitely played a huge role in my nomination. I can't thank them enough for their support."

Jones said his achievements are mostly due to the support he received from his family, particularly his wife Kande Jones, a former Air Force linguist.

Despite being excited to be a Sijan nominee, Jones said the recognition was bittersweet.

"My first thought was 'I wish I could call my dad and tell him,'" he said.

Jones said his father died in 2013 due to a heart attack.

"He was (an Air Force retiree) and any time I had good news about my military career, I would call him," he said.

Sheppard said her wife Natalie Sheppard and her parents keep her motivated to excel.

"They're always there to push me outside my comfort zone and keep me motivated," she said. "I attribute this award to the love of my job and to my leadership. This assignment is truly a blessing (as) I enjoy working with the cadets."

The award-winners will be recognized in a ceremony at the Pentagon early next year.