On August 4 at White Sands Missile Range, the 54th Operations Support Squadron, U.S. WSMR Air Force Traffic Control Team, gathered for an awards ceremony to celebrate a series of remarkable achievements. The event recognized outstanding individual and team accomplishments in air traffic control, highlighting the dedication, skill, and commitment that set this group apart across the U.S. Air Force.
The air traffic control team was awarded the prestigious Air Education and Training Command Annual Functional Award, earning the title of ATC Facility of the Year. This top honor recognizes the best air traffic control facility across the entire command. The team achieved this by outperforming 13 other highly active Air Force ATC facilities, including major flight-training bases, underlining their unmatched safety, efficiency, and skill in airspace management.
“This is a team award that every single one of you won through all the excellent work you do day in and day out to keep these missions going,” said U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Isaac Melton, the commander of the 54th Operations Support Squadron. “Whether it is up at Holloman or here at White Sands, just deconflicting all these mini missions that we have out here, it may not be the busiest airspace in the world, but it is definitely the more complex airspace with all the different mission sets.”
Airman 1st Class Alhaji Saccoh received the ATC Journeyman Badge after completing a challenging certification process that involved months of rigorous training, managing complex air traffic, and passing difficult examinations. His accomplishment marks an important milestone for himself and the team.
In addition to individual achievements, the ceremony also highlighted the exceptional performance of David Doan, who received the Air Force-Level Individual Functional Award after competing against top air traffic control specialists from every major command across the U.S. Air Force. By outperforming hundreds of highly skilled competitors, Doan has demonstrated exceptional expertise in his field and brings world-class knowledge to the unique airspace at White Sands Missile Range every day.
Finally, the event recognized the dedication of Perry Roelofs, Felix Guerra, and Eduardo Sims for their long service in air traffic control, with Roelofs reaching 10 years and both Guerra and Sims reaching 20 years. Their decades of experience are especially valuable in this demanding field. Together, their 30 years of local knowledge help ensure safety, continuity, and high-quality mentoring for new controllers at White Sands Missile Range.
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