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Airey NCO Academy to receive Fairchild award

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Brannen Parrish
  • Air University Public Affairs
MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. --  The Paul W. Airey NCO Academy will receive the Gen. Muir S. Fairchild Award for educational achievement Oct. 28 at Tyndall Air Force Base.

The Airey NCO Academy One is under the auspices of the Thomas E. Barnes Center for Enlisted Education and is the first enlisted educational organization to receive the award since it was established in 1964 by the Order of Daedalians to recognize outstanding educational achievement within Air University.

Past recipients include the Spaatz Center's Air War College, Air Command and Staff College and Squadron Officer College.

Col. Charles Johnson, Barnes Center commander, and Chief Master Sgt. Brye McMillon, Air University Command Chief, will present the award to the Chief Master Sgt. Malcolm McVicar, Airey Academy Commandant, and his staff.

"We couldn't be more proud of the contributions enlisted professional military education brings to the nation's fight for freedom," Colonel Johnson said. "Our enlisted cadre leads from the front, and the Airey academy is a shining example of that high standard of dedication and professionalism."

Chief McVicar attributes the organization's success to a diverse and highly educated staff.
"The selection process with any academy is stringent," Chief McVicar said. "They come from a variety of AFSCs, and they are all A-plus personalities, and that makes a difference."

Notable graduates of the Airey Academy at Tyndall AFB include Chief Airey who later became the first chief master sergeant of the Air Force. Additionally the 12th, 13th and 15th CMSAFs are alumni.

Chief McVicar said he attributes the graduates' success to the example set by Chief Airey.
"The name on the building sets a standard that we work every day to live up to," said the chief. Chief Airey had two favorite words, 'duty' and 'zeal', and he lived by those words. He loved this academy and he was a frequent visitor."