ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), a senior member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, praises Staff Sgt. Mercedes Kimble Crossland, formerly of the 97th Air Mobility Wing at Altus Air Force Base, Okla., for being named the Air Force Times’ 2009 Airman of the Year July 9. (Courtesy photo)