Clean sweep for 459th LRS officers in 2016 AFRC awards

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Kristin Kurtz
  • 459th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md. --  Each year, Air Force Reserve Command aims to honor Citizen Airmen who best exemplify Air Force core values of integrity, service and excellence.

Two Airmen from the 459th Air Refueling Wing here swept the 2016 AFRC Logistic Readiness category in the field grade and company grade officer categories.

Major Tracy Maestas, former 459th Logistics Readiness Flight director of operations, won Outstanding Logistics Readiness Field Grade Officer of the Year.

Captain Octavia Nelson, 69th Aerial Port Squadron officer-in-charge, won Outstanding Logistics Company Grade Officer of the Year.

“I honestly didn’t think I would get this award,” Maestas said. “To me, I was just doing my job to the best of my ability and learning so much from the experience. “

In order to win awards of this magnitude, Airmen have to take on opportunities that challenge them and, while slightly overwhelming, it could be the most rewarding time of their career, said Nelson.

The officer of the year award recognizes individuals who excelled in performance and made outstanding contributions to the Air Force or DoD logistics readiness mission.

Maestas served as director of operations for the 459th LRS where she managed 53 military and civilian personnel and oversaw daily squadron operations including material management, logistics plans, and vehicle and fuel management.

While assigned to the 459th, she also served on a 13-month tour at the Pentagon where she monitored combatant-command reporting.
She has a total of 18 years of combined service between Active Duty and Reserve.

“I am extremely proud of Maj. Maestas, and she is highly deserving of this award,” said Col. Ann Brown, 759th Logistics Readiness Flight commander. “She is exceptionally skilled, very passionate about her job, has an amazing work ethic, and I am honored to have served with her.”

Maestas is now serving as the 302nd Logistics Readiness Squadron director of operations at Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado.

Nelson works closely with the commander to ensure the unit meets all requirements to stay deployment ready as the director of operations for the 69th APS.

“I believe this award is mostly attributed to my duties while deployed to Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan, from October 2015 to April 2016,” said Nelson.

Nelson originally worked as the officer-in-charge of the Central Command Material Recovery Element at Bagram where she was responsible for teams that assisted in redeploying units back to the United States. However, due to unforeseen circumstances, she moved to be a squadron commander in the Expeditionary Mission Support Group.

“I was fortunate that my leadership put faith in my ability to lead,” said Nelson. “It was slightly overwhelming, but it was the most rewarding time of my career.”

With the bulk of total force in air mobility capability residing in the Air Force Reserve, this is one of the highest honors a company grade logistics readiness officer can receive.

“This award is a credit to her teamwork and mission-focus,” said Lt. Col. Justin OBrien, 69th APS commander. “She distinguishes herself every day. I couldn't be prouder to have Captain Nelson as one of my officers at the 69th.”

The LRS mission is to plan, supply and distribute worldwide expeditionary combat support.