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919th SOW maintainer named Crew Chief of the Year

By Ms. Nicole King, 919th Special Operations Wing / Published June 30, 2020

Airman stands in front of aircraft
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U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Michael Rieves, a crew chief with the 919th Special Operations Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, poses in front of a C-145 Combat Coyote May 23, 2019. Rieves won the 2019 Thomas N. Barnes Crew Chief of the Year award for Air Force Reserve Command. (U.S. Air Force photo by Dan Maffett)

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DUKE FIELD, Fla. -- Master Sgt. Michael Rieves, a crew chief with the 919th Special Operations Maintenance Squadron, was named the 2019 Thomas N. Barned Crew Chief of the Year award for Air Force Reserve Command.

The Thomas N. Barnes award is given to an Airman with the highest levels of readiness and efficiency to achieve excellence in all maintenance areas.

“Master Sgt. Rieves is instrumental in the success of the 919th and 592nd mission,” said Chief Master Sgt. Mark Harrell, superintendent of the 919th SOAMXS. “He has been pivotal in the maintenance cross utilization program that helps bridge the maintenance shortfall gaps by training Airmen with different Air Force specialty codes, such as an electricians, how to perform specific crew chief tasks, thus expanding the pool of deployable personnel.”

Rieves only found out his leadership submitted him for the award when he was announced the winner.

“I enjoy working with the team that is around me because we challenge each other to accomplish the mission, keep the aircraft airworthy and become better maintainers,” said Rieves. “They helped me win this award because their hard work pushed me to become a better individual and maintainer.”