HONOLULU - The Commander of Indo-Pacific Command, Adm. John C. Aquilino, and Riki Ellison, founder of the Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance, recognized the best air and missile defenders of the Australian Defence Force, and U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, and Space Force during an awards ceremony August 5, 2022.
Aquilino began the ceremony by noting, "Of the almost 400,000 people in the Indo-Pacific Command, this truly is the best of the best - the air and missile defenders. It's a key component of our national security. The same is true of our international partners, and we understand the importance of what you do.”
“We need to continue to improve our capabilities,” Aquilino said. “The defense of our homeland is clearly of vital importance. Assisting in the defense of our allies and partners as well is essential to what we do. It solidifies and protects the rules-based international order."
Multiple joint and combined senior leaders in attendance had the opportunity to remark on the importance of integrated air and missile defense
Maj. Gen. Brian W. Gibson, commander of the 94th Army Air and Missile Defense Command, is responsible for all Army air defense assets in the Indo-Pacific theater.
"We frequently say that air defense is as joint as it gets, and the service members we are recognizing today are a clear example of that,” Gibson said. ”The Australian Defence Force, U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, Air National Guard, and Space Force service members being honored today represent the best and brightest in our field. From Airman First Class to Rear Admiral, they display leadership, technical knowledge, and tactical proficiency on a daily basis."
As an Australian officer serving as the U.S. Army Pacific Deputy Commanding General, Maj. Gen. Chris Smith has a unique perspective on the combined nature of air and missile defense and offered his thoughts on Australia’s future Integrated Air and Missile Defense expansion, much of which would be interoperable with U.S. systems.
Prior to introducing the Australian award recipient, Maj. Gen. Smith offered his thoughts on Australia's coming Integrated Air and Missile Defense expansion, saying, "Australia is investing about $106 billion in both strike and missile defense capabilities in the next two decades. But most relevant tonight, another $24 billion is earmarked for deployed ballistic and cruise missile defense, mainly ground-based air defense. Now it's Australia's intention, of course, that these systems are interoperable with the United States. And to this end the program includes a joint air battle management system, also intended to be interoperable with American systems."
Australian Defense Force Maj. Andrew Evans has served as an exchange officer with the 94th AAMDC since 2021, working on integrating U.S. and Australian forces and laying the groundwork for Australia's previously mentioned IAMD efforts. "While we have traditionally focused on very short-range capabilities within the Army, we are now on a journey to provide a true integrated air and missile defense,” Evans said.
The Pacific Air Forces deputy commander, Lt. Gen. James Jacobson, introduced the Team of the Year from the 613th Air and Space Operations Center. Jacobson said, “What we do in the Air Ops Center is about synergies. Seeing everyone from the Joint Force – you look up from the screens and you see Soldiers there with us. You see Space Force teammates, Cyber and Navy folks. This is a team sport, and the AOC floor proves that every day. This is about a team coming together to sow the seeds of victory in the Pacific Theater.”
The recipient of the first-ever Indo-Pacific Air and Missile Defender Career Achievement Award, Rear Adm. Benjamin Nicholson serves as the Commander of Joint Region Marianas, with responsibility for Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands (CNMI), the Federated States of Micronesia, and the Republic of Palau. He was recognized as the strategic lynchpin for the development and integration of the critical system of capabilities that defend Guam.
"Air defense and now air and missile defense have long been imperative for Guam,” Nicholson said. “It would not be possible without our partnership with the Missile Defense Agency, the 94th AAMDC, and Task Force Talon, the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense battery, and the government of Guam, who has worked with us along the way to support this mission."
The complete list of the 2022 Indo-Pacific Air & Missile Defenders of the Year are:
U.S. Space Force Awardee
Sergeant Michael Dillard Jr.
613th Air Operations Center (AOC), Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii
U.S. Pacific Fleet Awardee
Lieutenant Daniel Gerew
USS O’Kane (DDG 77) – Naval Base San Diego, California
Australian Defence Force Awardee
Major Andrew Evans
94th Army Air and Missile Defense Command, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii
U.S. Army Pacific Awardee
Lieutenant Colonel John Trahan
94th Army Air and Missile Defense Command, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii
U.S. Pacific Air Forces Awardees
613th Air Operations Center Defense Team, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii
Airman First Class Jovanna Hernandez
Staff Sergeant Bonnie Bagnaro
Staff Sergeant Courtney Meek
Master Sergeant Saundra Collins
Master Sergeant Brenden Villa-Hashimoto
Major Marconi Cabatbat
Lieutenant Colonel Lewis Collins
INDOPACOM Career Achievement Awardee
Rear Admiral Benjamin Nicholson
U.S. Indo-Pacific Command
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