Mobility's Best: Radar NCO named command's best for second year

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Charles Rivezzo
  • 60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  For the second consecutive year, Air Mobility Command's Outstanding Ground Radar System noncommissioned officer of the year was a Travis Airman from the 60th Operations Support Squadron.

Staff Sgt. Jefferson Aguiar, 60th OSS NCO in charge of ground radar systems, received back-to-back distinction earlier last month.

"My team is the reason why I was able to stay competitive at the AMC level for two years in a row," Aguiar said. "While this may be an individual award, it validates my team's accomplishments throughout the year more than anything else."

As the NCOIC of ground radar systems, Aguiar and his team maintain and align three air traffic control radar systems on the installation. Additionally, part of their job is to verify the operation of the Digital Airport Surveillance Radar - an instrumental radar system - performing preventative maintenance inspections, repairs and evaluations in accordance with Air Force and Federal Aviation Administration standards.

Albeit small, Aguiar's team has an essential task. They are the sole individuals responsible for the largest air mobility organization in the Air Force's radar systems - a job that presents special challenges as well as opportunities. 

"Since we are in California, green energy is a big thing," he said. "The windmills close to Rio Vista create a unique challenge to our radars and trying to mitigate those false targets for our aircrews definitely created opportunities to set us apart from other radar units."

Aguiar's efforts also led to providing and ensuring radar air coverage for President Barack Obama during his visit to the Bay Area in 2013.

But perhaps his greatest accomplishment can once again be tied to the collective efforts of his team, as his team was awarded an "outstanding" rating during its most recent Airfield Operations Compliance Inspection.

While success is indeed something that can be shared mutually by his team, Aguiar's personal achievements outside of the work center were of significant merit as well.

"During this time period, I was also able to finish both my Community College of the Air Force degree in electronic systems technology and my bachelors in software engineering," he said.

This pursuit of furthering his education represented the fundamental reason for Aguiar joining the Air Force in 2007.  

Aguiar also added that the support he received from his wife, Tatiane, and his daughter were crucial toward his focus on the mission and his personal goals.