SCHRIEVER AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- Team Schriever presented more than 40 awards to Airmen and civilians July 16, 2020, during the 50th Space Wing Annual and Quarterly Awards ceremony outside the Event Center here.
Originally, leadership scheduled the event for March. However, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, they rescheduled the ceremony to July and moved it outside so more people could attend.
Col. James Smith, 50th Space Wing commander, commended the committee Airmen for setting it up and for their work to ensure the ceremony happened.
“What we do here is critical to our nation,” Smith said. “It takes a team to do everything we do. But it also takes some individuals who are standing out and going above and beyond, and that’s each and every one of you.”
Prior to naming award winners for the first and second quarters, Capt. Lindsey Gorski, 50th SW Plans and Programs Office chief and master of ceremonies for the quarterly awards, introduced award presenters and special guests, thanked sponsors and explained the importance of the event.
“This awards ceremony allows the 50th Space Wing and all of Team Schriever to join together and recognize those Airmen and civilians who, through their actions and performance, have distinguished themselves from their peers,” she said.
Before introducing the 2019 annual award winners, Airman 1st Class Jeremy Block, 4th Space Operations Squadron satellite vehicle expert and master of ceremonies for the annual awards, highlighted how Airmen and civilians’ commitment remain critical to the mission.
“While the award winners are already aware they have won in their respective categories, we did not want to pass over the opportunity to give these individuals the recognition they deserve,” Block said. “The tireless dedication and work each of these men and women accomplished during 2019 are in large part why the 50th Space Wing and Team Schriever are so aptly named the champion team.”
Chief Master Sgt. Boston Alexander, 50th Space Wing command chief, highlighted the importance of Airmen and civilians who strive to improve the world with their work.
“Our nation, no matter the level of power, cannot move without what you do here at Schriever every day,” Alexander said. “Whether it’s diplomacy, information, military or economic, we touch it because this is Schriever, and what we do here every day is championship business.”
Alexander also used motivational quotes to inspire those in attendance and watching via Facebook Live.
“As Sun Tzu would say, ‘Victorious warriors win, then go to war. Defeated warriors go to war, then seek to win,’” he said. “Here at Schriever, we win every day. We’ve been waiting to do this [ceremony] since March and it wouldn’t be right without words from Jay-Z. Jay-Z would say, ‘Pound for pound, we are the best to ever come around here, excluding nobody.’ That’s how good you are.”
Smith closed the event by congratulating the award winners and nominees. He also provided thanks to all who helped with the event and those who assisted in recognizing Team Schriever for their work.
“Continue to do your jobs and the rest will take care of itself,” Smith said. “Together we’ll continue to execute this awesome mission and be a champion team together.”