Senior Master Sgt. Michael Morris, Altus Award Winner!

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Jennifer Seidl
  • 97th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  Senior Master Sergeant Michael Morris is the 2009 Staff Sgt. Henry E. "Red" Erwin Outstanding Senior Noncommissioned Officer Career Enlisted Aviator of the Year.

The Henry E. Erwin Outstanding Enlisted Aircrew Member of the Year Award is presented annually to an Airman, noncommissioned officer and senior noncommissioned officer in the active-duty or reserve forces. It goes to members of the flight engineering, loadmaster, air surveillance and related career fields of outstanding annual achievement. It is only the second Air Force award named for an enlisted person.

"When you win awards at the Senior NCO level, one has to ready to admit that they have won the award with the help of those that they lead. I was very fortunate to work for an outstanding commander, and just as important, was able to lead a very professional group of outstanding enlisted personnel. They deserve a great deal of the credit in this award coming to the 54th ARS." said Morris.

Morris was selected for this honor based on outstanding accomplishments, leadership, and self improvement in 2009. Examples of his work include flying 50 sorties that included 107 instructor hours and 22 evaluator hours in his duties as 97th Training Squadron Superintendent and KC-135R Evaluator Boom Operator. Morris was Senior NCO of the Year in 2009 for both the 22nd Operations Group and the 97th Operations Group. As part of his successes, he executed two squadron merges and reorganized the unit to comply with the Air Force operations model, cutting overhead positions while training operations continued seamlessly.

His 51 instructors taught 78 classes including nine syllabi, managed a $138M flight program and produced 750 new aircrew members, with a 100 percent graduation success rate in 2009 as a measure of his leadership. During the Aircrew Standardization and Evaluation Visit, 66 percent of wing Airmen evaluated earned an "Exceptionally Qualified" mark with test averages of 98.6 percent; the unit was rated "Outstanding."

For those interested in gaining similar recognition, "First and foremost, go to work every day with a simple mindset: 'What can I do to improve my squadron and wing, and what can I do to most effectively train the next generation of Air Force leaders?'" said Morris.

Morris himself spent his personal time on education and training; he completed five classes and two College Level Examination Program tests, which put him one class short for his Aerospace Bachelor of Science degree (which he has now completed with Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University as a Magna Cum Laude graduate). He also completed a Community College of the Air Force Instructor of Technology Associates of Science degree.

He volunteered as well, serving as a wing prisoner of war ceremony committee member, serving as master of ceremonies for the 300 attendees of the event. He was also the guest speaker at NCO and SNCO inductions, mentoring 28 inductees.

Morris is originally from Mobil, Ala., where he still has family. He graduated Baker High School in 1987 and enlisted in the Air Force the same year. He was a Distinguished Graduate from Airman Leadership School in 1992 and earned a promotion to master sergeant through Stripes for Exceptional Performers in 2005. In addition to his B.S. from Embry-Riddle, and A.S. from CCAF, he holds three additional CCAF degrees, in business administration, management & logistics management, and aviation operations.

"I hope people see just how important the work is that we do here in the 97th AMW. The people that I competed with spanned eight different AFSCs, and undoubtedly are much closer to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. What I get out of this award is knowing just how important preparing the next generation of mobility war fighter is in our national interest." said Morris.