Two OSI agents receive Bronze Star Medals in ceremony at OSI Headquarters

  • Published
  • By Mr. James C. Dillard
  • OSI Public Affairs
OSI HQ QUANTICO, Va. --  The Air Force Office of Special Investigations has seen its fair share of Bronze Star Medal recipients throughout its history, and on Feb. 23, they added two more OSI agents to the long and distinguished list.

Lt. Col. (SA) Vasaga Tilo and Special Agent Andrew Schad both received their Bronze Star Medals in a combined ceremony at the OSI Headquarters in Quantico, Va., with both of their families and dozens of friends and co-workers in attendance.

Brig. Gen. Kevin Jacobsen, OSI commander, pinned both men during the ceremony. Knowing that both medals were well earned, the general had nothing but praise for the agents.

"It is an honor and a privilege to present these awards," General Jacobsen said. "It's just another reminder of the quality of the men and women we have in our organization. Thank you for your service and sacrifice to the nation."

Colonel Tilo was the commander of OSI Expeditionary Detachment 2405, Bagram Air Field Afghanistan, from October 2009 through October 2010. His leadership and accomplishments for this time period is what earned him the Bronze Star. He led his team on more than 200 outside-the-wire combat missions in hostile environments, conducting counter-threat operations and tactical intelligence collections.

There were 11 personnel under Colonel Tilo's command at EDet. 2405 who also earned Bronze Stars.

"When I think of the all of the outside-the-wire missions, direct action missions, and the unwavering execution of all of this dangerous work by brave operators under my direction, I feel humbled in receiving a Bronze Star representing the awesome work we achieved as a team," Colonel Tilo said. "I attribute the success of my team to the fact that we believed in our mission and had a lot of pride in getting it done."

Colonel Tilo also had some great things to say about his fellow medal recipient.

"It is also a great honor to receive such an award with a good friend and true warrior like SA Andy Schad, who I and the rest of the command highly respect," he said. "It was great to share this ceremony with such an awesome leader."

SA Schad received his Bronze Star for his work at OSI EDet. 2411, Joint Base Balad, Iraq, from May 2010 through October 2010. During this period, as the special agent in charge, SA Schad led his team in counter-threat operations culminating in identifying 92 enemy targets and neutralizing 26 insurgents. Under his leadership, EDet. 2411 also recruited 57 new informants, including an informant who helped OSI identify an Iraqi soldier who was religiously motivated to open fire on his American and Coalition counterparts.

"We all worked together as a strong and competent fighting team," SA Schad said. "Being a part of that team was the highlight of my tour. I would go to war again with them tomorrow."

The Bronze Star, authorized by Executive Order No. 9419 on Feb. 4, 1944, is awarded to a person in any branch of the military service who, while serving in any capacity with the Armed Forces, distinguished himself by heroic or meritorious achievement or service, not involving participation in aerial flight, in connection with military operations against an armed enemy. It is is the fourth-highest U.S. Armed Forces combat award.

General Jacobsen also thanked the medal recipients' families for supporting the agents throughout their deployments.

"You were all huge contributors to your husbands' and father's actions," General Jacobsen said. "They could not have achieved this level of success without the constant support from home. I thank each of you for the sacrifices you endured so that we could use the talents of Vasaga and Andy to further the needs of the Air Force and nation."

Colonel Tilo echoed General Jacobsen's sentiments concerning family.

"Knowing my wife had everything at home under control and that she understood the responsibility I had as a commander in the combat zone, it allowed me to focus on my mission and personnel in order to ensure I could return everyone on my team home safely," Colonel Tilo said. "My mission could have been much more difficult to accomplish without my 'all star team' taking care of things at home."