3rd EMS commander named 2009 Leo Marquez winner

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Christopher Gross
  • 3rd Wing Public Affairs
ELMENDORF AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska --  Lt. Col. Kenyon Bell, 3rd Equipment Maintenance Squadron commander, was recently named recipient of the 2009 Lt. Gen. Leo Marquez Missile and Munitions Maintenance Field Grade Manager award.

The colonel said he was very humbled when he had heard the news of his Air Force level accomplishment; this is the first Air Force level award for Colonel Bell.

"It's a tremendous honor." said Colonel Bell. "You see those (award) messages every year and it's very humbling to be recognized."

Colonel Bell's five flights include aerospace ground equipment, fabrication and maintenance which assist the wing in maintaining all mission design series aircraft that are assigned and transit Elmendorf. The other two, armament and munitions flights, are specifically responsible for maintaining the weapons and weapon systems of the F-22 Raptor and F-15 Eagle, and were key contributors to this award.

Although Colonel Bell said it was a tremendous honor to be able to go and accept this award, he said was it on behalf of all the behind-the-scenes hard work done by the Airmen in his flights.

"I don't believe there are any individual awards," said Colonel Bell. "This is certainly an accomplishment that highlights the work the 3 EMS and my deployed unit (451 EMXS) do as a whole."

With all the good things the colonel had to say about his flights, his Airmen echoed similar sentiments.

"(He's) top notch, very personable and one of the finest I've ever served under," said Tech. Sgt. Wade Schutt, 3rd EMS Munitions Flight.

Colonel Bell gets out to see the Airmen in his flights and really gets to know them on a personal level. He wants to have that close-knit bond with his Airmen, added Sergeant Schutt.

"I think he's an excellent commander. One of the things he really goes out of his way to do, is remember every single person under his command by their first name," said Senior Airman Nathan Wyrembelski, 3rd EMS Armament Flight.

Most of Colonel Bell's Airmen were impressed about how involved he tries to be.

"It's my pleasure and privilege to lead the (Airmen) in the 3rd Equipment Maintenance Squadron as we maintain the aircraft assigned to Elmendorf," said the colonel.

Colonel Bell is expected to accept his award April 28, in Washington, D.C.