Duke reservist dominant in command media contest

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ROBINS AFB, Ga. --  A 919th Special Operations Wing photojournalist was one of two Airmen earning multiple first-place awards in the 2012 Air Force Reserve Command Media Contest

Duke Field reservist Tech. Sgt. Samuel King Jr, the NCO in charge of the wing's public affairs office, took the military photographer of the year award. He also captured the feature photo, portrait and picture story categories.

King has claimed a dozen first-place AFRC photography awards in his four years at Duke.   

Staff Sgt. Brent Skeen, a broadcaster from the 459th Air Refueling Wing, Joint Base Andrews, Md., was the top command winner. In addition to military broadcaster of the year, he won the television news report, TV feature report, TV sports report, TV newsbreak and video field production categories.

Their work, along with other qualifying entries, advanced to the Air Force Media Contest in San Antonio, Texas.

Airmen and civilian employees from 27 organizations throughout the command submitted 290 web, print, graphic, photographic and broadcast entries to the contest.

"I commend them for their dedicated service, superior work and continued enthusiasm," said Lt. Gen. James F. Jackson, AFRC commander, in a memorandum March 2 announcing the contest results.

Other winners in the command contest are:

First Lt. Zachary Anderson, 931st Air Refueling Group, McConnell AFB, Kan. - commentary, photojournalism and news photograph categories.

Staff Sgt. Mikhail Berlin, 445th Airlift Wing, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio - pictorial photo category.

Staff Sgt. Steve Collier, 302nd AW, Peterson AFB, Colo. - human interest feature article and illustrative photo categories.

Senior Airman Kelly Galloway, 439th AW, Westover Air Reserve Base, Mass. - documentation photo, sports photo and outstanding new photographer categories.

Tech. Sgt. Danielle Johnston, 442nd Fighter Wing, Whiteman AFB, Mo. - military print journalist of the year, news article and personality feature article categories. Her feature represented the command in the Air Force contest's feature article category.

Shawn Jones, 514th Air Mobility Wing, JB McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J. - sports article and civilian print journalist of the year categories.

Senior Airman Andrew McLaughlin, 434th ARW, Grissom ARB, Ind. - outstanding new writer and graphic layout & design categories.

Tech. Sgt. Brannen Parrish, 931st ARG, McConnell AFB - news feature article category.

William Pope, 439th AW, Westover ARB - graphic illustration category. Pope's photo portfolio also advanced to the Air Force contest in the civilian photographer of the year category.

Staff Sgt. Shawn Rhodes, 927th ARW, MacDill AFB, Fla. - series category.

Chaplain (Capt.) Joseph Eggleston outscored other contributors to win the command's stringer writer category. He was with the 439th AW, Westover ARB, at the time he wrote his commentary. He is now assigned to the 459th ARW at JB Andrews.

Shannon McKay and Senior Airman Trevor Saylor of the 934th AW, Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport Air Reserve Station, Minn., had their work advance to the Air Force contest. McKay is representing the command in the graphic animation category, and Saylor is in the outstanding new broadcaster category.

Unit award winners are the 302nd AW, Peterson AFB, in the website category; 315th AW, JB Charleston, S.C., in the video documentary category; and 920th Rescue Wing, Patrick AFB, Fla., in the outstanding initiative in new media category. These entries are representing the command in the Air Force contest.

The Freedom Flyer magazine from the 514th AMW, JB McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, was named the command's best publication.

The Heartland Warrior online magazine from the 434th ARW, Grissom ARB, placed second in the publication category. It is representing the command in the web-based publication category in the Air Force contest.

In announcing the contest results, Jackson thanked the print journalists, still photographers, graphic artists, broadcasters and contributing writers for keeping AFRC people and the American public informed about the important missions performed by their units, the Air Force Reserve and the U.S. Air Force. He extended "best wishes for success" to the individuals and units who had their work advance to the Air Force Media Contest.

Results of the Air Force contest are expected to be announced by March 8.

(Dan Neely, 919th Special Operations Wing Public Affairs, contributed to this report)