Air Force names sergeant 'outstanding'

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Amber Carter
  • 60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  Out of more than 450,000 Airmen and 35 nominees, 12 Airmen were chosen, but only one was selected from Air Mobility Command.

Stationed at Travis Air Force Base, California, Master Sgt. Joseph Bogdan, 60th Force Support Squadron Airman and Family Readiness Center superintendent, was selected July 27 as one of the Air Force's Outstanding Airman of the Year for 2015.

As superintendent, Bogdan led 16 civilians and one military member in the execution of 10 diverse social programs in AMC's largest Airman and Family Readiness Center. Through his leadership, his team earned the 2014 Air Force and AMC Best Large Airman and Family Readiness Center award.

"It's hard for me to nail down exactly what made me stand out because I honestly see myself simply doing my job and I see my job as improving myself, those around me and the community I am in," Bogdan said. "I think what really led to this award was the fact that I did my best to take advantage of the opportunities I was afforded and I was supported by great people in my life."

Other accomplishments include being lead master resiliency trainer, leading 260 instructors as the subject-matter expert for curriculum, affecting more than 53,000 personnel within the command, developing a leadership pathways self-tracking program for AMC's 18 wings, receiving the 2014 AMC Gen. Billy J. Boles Mentorship Award for superior performance, dedication and commitment and earning a Bachelor of Science degree in social sciences.

"The award means the world to me because I see it as the culmination of all the hard work my family, mentors, leaders, peers and team have done," Bogdan said. "I feel that no personal achievement of this magnitude can be earned on your own. My family and team deserve all the credit."

Bogdan's peers speak highly of his character.

"I first met him during master resiliency training," said Master Sgt. Francisco Zamorano, 60th FSS Airman Leadership School commandant as well as Bogdan's colleague and friend. "His ability to work through issues and find solutions is uncanny. He has great people skills that foster trust and optimism, which gives any unit he is in a boost."

When asked what advice he would give to other Airmen trying to achieve Outstanding Airman of the Year, Bogdan said, "I would tell them to be extraordinary."

"In my opinion, extraordinary people simply master the ordinary, meaning they take care of their primary duties, their team, their families and themselves and consistently do just a little extra," he said. "Extraordinary people show character by working just as hard on the things they don't want to do."

After making the rank of master sergeant in 10 years, there is no sign of slowing down for the senior master sergeant select.

"My future goals are to one day be a command chief, earn my master's degree in organizational leadership and continue to my best ability in any opportunity the Air Force gives me," he said.