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Altus NCO nominated for DoD military firefighter of year

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Jennifer Seidl
  • 97th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE, Okla --  Tech. Sgt. Christopher D. Lance, 312th Training Squadron is the Air Education and Training Command nominee for the 2009 Department of Defense Military Fire Officer of the Year.

This annual award recognizes an individual military fire officer (Active or Reserve) for superior job performance and outstanding contributions to the fire service, with specific focus for on-duty related contributions to fire and emergency services programs.

"I hope (this award) motivates the young Airmen to see that if you work hard enough you can be a significant asset to the Air Force and it's very satisfying to be recognized for your efforts," Sergeant Lance said.

Sergeant Lance out-performed other Military Fire Officers in AETC by winning four noncommissioned officer of the quarter and year awards in 2009 as coined by Gen. Stephen Lorenz the AETC Commander and Command Chief Master Sgt. Robert Tappana. In three different emergency responses this year, Sergeant Lance saved money and lives, including an infant.

Sergeant Lance's guidance led to five of his Airmen being chosen for promotion below-the-zone. Thirty eight percent of his subordinates in upgrade training scored a 90 percent, with a total of 92 certificates earned. Five of his Airmen earned a combined total of 36 credits from the Community College of the Air Force, one of them receiving a degree.

Sergeant Lance's selection for this honor and elevation for a Department of Defense nomination for his volunteer work as, among other things, a tiger scout leader, in the 97th Civil Engineer Squadron's Christmas toy and food drive, and driver in the funeral procession of a fallen firefighter.

"The Altus AFB Fire Department deserves the recognition," Sergeant Lance said. "The training program is fantastic and the caliber of leadership is superb."

Sergeant Lance now serves as a firefighter instructor at Goodfellow AFB, Texas. He goes on to compete at the Air Force competition level and then to the DoD Fire and Emergency Services level.