Air Force Office of Special Investigations named team of the year

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WASHINGTON --  Air Force and Air Force Association officials have named Air Force Office of Special Investigations as the 2008 Team of the Year.

Each year, the AFA, working with major command level command chief master sergeants and the Office of the Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force, selects a specific Air Force career field for this recognition.

The individual members selected to represent the chosen career field are professionals who clearly display superior technical expertise, attract the praise of their superiors and provide leadership and inspiration to others.

The following individuals, representing the AFOSI career field, are team members selected to represent AFOSI for this year's award:

Master Sgt. Lonnie R. Isaac II, AFOSI Detachment 207, Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo.; Tech. Sgt. Wayne C. Pugh, 3rd Field Investigations Squadron, Lackland AFB, Texas; Staff Sgt. Timothy J. Rivera, AFOSI Region 8, Peterson AFB, Colo.; Staff Sgt. Eric M. Ackerstrom, 7th Field Investigations Squadron, Andrews AFB, Md.; and Staff Sgt. Megan N. Fordham, AFOSI Detachment 102, Hanscom AFB, Mass.

"Every Airman can be proud of our fellow warriors in the AFOSI community and the tremendous job they are doing around the globe," said Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Rodney J. McKinley. "Their dedication, skill, and determination are securing and protecting the lives of fellow Airmen, Marines, Soldiers, Sailors, and coalition forces every day."

Five to seven Airmen are selected each year to represent their profession in the presentation ceremony in Washington, D.C. While in D.C., the Airmen tour the Capitol and other sites, meet senior Air Force and congressional leaders, and accept awards on behalf of their career field at a reception hosted by the AFA. This year's reception is scheduled for May 12.

In the recent past, the following career fields have also been recognized as the team of the year: expeditionary medics, services, vehicle operators, and command and control.
Team of the Year short biographies:

Master Sgt. Lonnie R. Isaac II:
Superintendent of AFOSI Detachment 207, Whiteman AFB Mo. He was recently named AFOSI 2nd Field Investigations Region Senior Enlisted Special Agent of the Year for 2007.

Tech. Sgt. Wayne C. Pugh:
A member of the AFOSI Antiterrorism Specialty Team, 3rd Field Investigations Squadron, Lackland AFB, Texas. He provides counterintelligence support to deployed and in-transit forces. He was recently named AFOSI 7th Field Investigation Region Junior Enlisted Special Agent of the Year for 2007.

Staff Sgt. Timothy J. Rivera:
Special agent with AFOSI Detachment 810, Los Angeles AFB, Calif. He works to protect cutting-edge technologies and research at the Air Force Space and Missile Center from threats posed by foreign intelligence services. He was recently selected AFOSI 8th Field Investigations Region Junior Enlisted Special Agent of the Year for 2007.

Staff Sgt. Eric M. Ackerstrom:
An individual mobilization augmentee and special agent with AFOSI 7th Field Investigations Squadron, Andrews AFB, Md. He investigates felony offenses throughout the nation's capital and the region. He was recently selected as AFOSI 3rd Field Investigations Region Enlisted Individual Mobilization Augmentee Special Agent of the Year for 2007.

Staff Sgt. Megan N. Fordham:
Special agent assigned to the fraud investigations branch, AFOSI Detachment 102, Hanscom AFB, Mass. She conducts fraud investigations in support of the Electronic Systems Center and 66th Air Base Wing. She was recently selected AFOSI 1st Field Investigations Region Noncommissioned Officer of the Year for 2007.