HQ RIO announces IR of the Year 2023 Published July 23, 2024 By Tech Sgt. Cierra Mason HQ RIO Public Affairs BUCKLEY SPACE FORCE BASE, Colo. -- Headquarters Readiness and Integration Organization announced its 2023 Individual Reservists of the Year awards for the noncommissioned officer, senior NCO, and company and field grade officer categories July 18, 2024. “This year’s award winners represent the best of our IR Citizen Airmen,” said Col. Gregory M. Kuzma, Commander, 419th Mission Support Group and Board President. “Their selfless commitment to supporting their active component missions while improving their units through innovative thinking makes me proud to serve with each one of them.” HQ RIO is proud to announce the following Airmen as the 2024 IROY winners: Staff Sgt. Marcel Medina, Reserve Paralegal, Judge Advocate, 35th Fighter Wing, Misawa Air Base, Japan (Detachment 5) Over the course of eight months, Medina completed a three-month professional military education course, a two-week annual tour, and three weeks of inactive duty training, balancing her civilian responsibilities while exceeding her participation/readiness standards. She also trained six paralegals and three agencies on the Individualized Mobilization Augmentee program while OCONUS, and won Pacific Air Forces, Air Reserve Command, NCO Paralegal of the Year. Medina selflessly dedicated over 40 hours to the local community at the Humane Society and aided in the execution of the 50th anniversary Operation Homecoming attended by 33,000 people honoring the sacrifices of the Vietnam Prisoners of War. HQ RIO has awarded her the title of the 2023 IR of the Year for the NCO category. Master Sgt. Michael R. Voutila, Flight Chief, Sustainment Services, 45th Force Support Squadron, Patrick Space Force Base, Florida. (Detachment 3) Voutila oversaw a team of 90 experts and managed a $9.4 million portfolio across two bases with 140,000 customers. His achievements included providing 40k meals, 6,000 bed-nights, handling 12,400 mail items and hosting 23 distinguished visitors. He also organized off-site training sessions for two local Reserve Officer Training Corps detachments and trained 15 cadre members on myFitness technicalities and the new body composition assessment policy, ensuring adherence to Department of the Air Force fitness standards. Voutila dedicated over 100 hours towards the development of local youth. He served 36 hours at Rainbow Elementary School in fundraising and chaperone efforts for the 5th grade Mudwalk trip, ensuring a memorable and safe experience for more than 120 children. HQ RIO has awarded him the title of 2023 IR of the Year for the SNCO category. Capt. Gregory R. Kahan, Senior Intelligence Officer, 89th Operations Group, Operations Support Squadron, 89th Airlift Wing, Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. (Detachment 4) Kahan established the 89th AW’s first ever “watch floor,” dedicating 24/7 intel support to the President of the United States, Secretary of State, Secretary of Defense, and Congressional Delegate war-time missions to Israel. He helped orchestrate an innovative C-37 intercept training mission, leading the team which developed an intelligence support plan for identifying command and control shortfalls, helping to drive distinguished visitor airlift tactics, techniques and procedures development. Kahan led a professional development training session on the Guard and Reserve process enabling a seamless transition for three separating airmen, while also building the IMA playbook for future 89 OSS Reserve Airmen. HQ RIO has awarded him the title of 2023 IR of the Year for the CGO category. Lieutenant Col. Lance E. Ferguson, Deputy Branch Chief, Weapons and Tactics, USAFE A3/A3X, USAFE Warfare Center, Einsiedlerhof Air Station, Germany. (Detachment 8) Lt Col Ferguson's leadership of an esteemed USAFE team has had a profound theater-level impact since the onset of the Ukraine War. His team's continuous efforts have bolstered theater security and significantly influenced geopolitical dynamics across the European theater. Furthermore, the team's ability to rapidly innovate across various technical specialties delivered results for key lines of effort and energized further transformation for military projects underway in the U.S. and Europe. His leadership resulted in numerous successes in interoperability, employment, and partnership that surpass those of our largest Air Force Units. HQ RIO has awarded him the title of 2023 IR of the Year for the FGO category. “It is an honor to name these Airmen as our 2023 IROY winners. The awards are a testament of their hard work and dedication to their jobs and their units. HQ RIO supports a wide range of missions, and these four Airmen exemplified the highest standard of excellence. Congratulations to all our winners,” said Col. Nathan Day, HQ RIO commander.