McChord NCO earns Crew Chief of the Year Award

Published Jan. 22, 2016
By Senior Airman Divine Cox
62nd Airlift Wing Public Affairs

JOINT BASE LEWIS-McCHORD, Wash. -- Staff Sgt. Nickolas Johnson, 62nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron C-17 Globemaster flying crew chief, has been awarded the 62nd AMXS Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force Thomas N. Barnes Crew Chief of the Year Award for 2015 for McChord.

The CMSAF Thomas N. Barnes Award is given annually to Airmen that the Air Force Association recognizes with the most significant contribution to the mission. Base-level military and civil service aircraft crew chiefs, regardless of Air Force Specialty Code are eligible for this award.

The Cheney, Washington, native said he was honored to receive the award. According to the criteria, the award is based on an individual's ability to maintain the highest levels of readiness and efficiency to achieve excellence in all maintenance areas.

"I am very honored to have won the Chief Barnes award for the 62nd Airlift Wing," said Johnson. We have more than 600 qualified Airmen to be submitted for this award and to win it proves how dedicated I am at doing my job."

Sergeant Johnson has been in the United States Air Force for 10 years and worked in the maintenance career field his entire enlistment.

"[Johnson] is just a hard worker," said Tech Sgt. Mark Perez, 62nd AMXS aerospace propulsion technician and Johnson's supervisor. "He is very dedicated to the mission and sets the bar for all Airmen in our squadron."

Because of Johnson's hard work and dedication, he was recently promoted to a flying crew chief.

Aircraft may land at locations that do not have the proper tools or equipment for maintenance. In a situation such as this, the crew chief working on the aircraft needs to be highly skilled and knowledgeable in the maintenance of the C-17.

"It is my job to keep the aircrafts flying," said Johnson. "If aircrafts are grounded then the mission can't get done."

Johnson said he was notified of this accomplishment in his morning roll call meeting and was presented the award by his officer in charge.

"I honestly did not expect to win this award," said Johnson. "Everyone who was submitted for this award was equally deserving. Now I am considered the best of the best and will continue to strive to be the person and Airman I can be."

Jonhson will move on to compete at the MAJCOM level, were the winner will be notified by AFA and presented an award at the AFA National Convention held Sept. in Washington, D.C.