Altus pilot AETC nominee for aviation award Published Jan. 22, 2008 By Senior Airman Clinton Atkins 97th Air Mobility Wing ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- A C-17 pilot assigned to the 58th Airlift Squadron here was recently named the Air Education and Training Command nominee for the 2007 Daedalian Exceptional Pilot award. Maj. Scott M. Anderson will compete with other Air Force nominees for the award, established in 1998 to inspire duty performance excellence by career military pilots who place the nation above self. The award is given to one Air Force and one Navy recipient annually. The criteria for the award includes one or more feats such as: deeds performed to guarantee mission success, acts of valor as an aviator, extraordinary displays of courage or leadership in the air in support of air operations and accomplishments pertaining to flying safety factors. Major Anderson accomplished many of those feats. "My job as a C-17 aircraft commander is to lead a crew to get the mission done," Major Anderson said. "In this case, we had a life on the line and my crew and I were challenged to rapidly and safely transport injured soldiers out of an austere location. Ultimately, we were basically doing what we do every mission. That day, we happened to be in the right place at the right time and helped save a life." 58th Airlift Squadron commander Lt. Col. Paul E. Bauman said that Major Anderson received this honor due to the dedication he displays on every task assigned to him, and "he doesn't know how to fail." "Major Anderson illustrates the immense pride the C-17 community, and all air mobility forces, take in accomplishing challenging missions day in and day out," Colonel Bauman said.