Travis pilot receives Sijan Award

  • Published
  • By Nick DeCicco
  • 60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  A captain from Travis Air Force Base, California, was one of four 2015 recipients of the Air Force's Lance P. Sijan Leadership Awards held April 7 in the Airmen's Hall at the Pentagon.

Capt. David Plachno, 21st Airlift Squadron pilot, was recognized for his leadership as a C-17 Globemaster III aircraft commander and deployed United Nations military observer from July 1, 2014, to June 30, 2015, in South Sudan. During that time, his leadership led to the survival and relocation of 100,000 displaced refugees during the African nation's civil war and emergency.

Plachno said he was one of only five United States military members in South Sudan, none of whom were operating from a base. When the civil war erupted and U.S. embassies began evacuations, Americans were told to leave the country for their safety. Plachno and his group helped carry the Americans to safety, but also helped establish safe havens for the refugees trying to escape the war.

"It wasn't something on TV," Plachno said. "It was something real happening right in front (of) us and we had the opportunity to help."

The conflict, which began in December 2013, has displaced as many as 1.5 million South Sudanese people, according to United Nations spokesman Stéphane Dujarric in an April 2015 article in the New York Times.

Plachno led a team of 14 international field-grade officers, enabling the employment of $1.1 billion in aviation assets from nine countries to supply 14 million pounds of supplies to U.N. staff members and refugees.

The pilot said absorbing the reality of helping 100,000 people is hard to imagine.

"It became personal and I was able to connect with so many on a personal level," he said. "These weren't just refugees living outside a base or in a town. These refugees were living with us on the makeshift compounds. We worked with them, shared the same facilities and saw the looks in their eyes each day. I was there to help unload them off the helicopters, drive them to the makeshift clinics and help them find displaced family members. Many times I wish there was more I could have done."

The Sijan award is given to Airmen who demonstrate the highest quality of leadership in performance of their duties and personal lives.

Plachno said he draws support from his wife and children.

"My wife was incredibly brave and strong through the sometimes long lapses in communication," he said. "She was actually the one who kept my leadership updated with my status and location. She is the strongest, most amazing woman I know and she is a testament to the hard work and sacrifices military spouses make to support their spouses serving around the world."

A prior enlisted member, Plachno's service includes a stop at Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland, working in support of President George W. Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney and first lady Laura Bush. He was awarded the White House Junior Enlisted Member of the Year honors in 2005 and one of the Air Force's 12 outstanding Airmen of the Year in 2006. In April 2009, he received his commission from Officer Training School. He's working on his master of business administration degree.

"I have been extremely blessed to have had such a fun and unique career," he said. "I've always had incredible supervisors and commanders. They always motivated and challenged me to do my best and live out that 'no-fail mission' mentality. I feel that those lessons were what got me through the deployment. We could have easily evacuated with the other Americans, but we knew that it was truly a 'no-fail mission' and it's a true reflection to my mentors and leadership over the years. ... I feel like I did what any of us as military members would do if put in the same situation."