EOD Airman earns NCO of the Year

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Joel Pfiester
  • 509th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. --  Courage, selflessness, bravery, professionalism, vigilance … The list goes on and on when speaking about traits that an individual should embody when dealing with explosives and other hazards on the battlefield.

One Whiteman Airman possesses them all.

Recently named Whiteman Air Force Base’s 2017 NCO of the Year, U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Michael Vallejo, a 509th Civil Engineer Squadron explosive ordnance disposal team leader, distinguished himself at home station and while deployed.

While deployed to Southwest Asia in support of Operation Inherent Resolve, Vallejo led five emergency responses and eliminated 20 unexploded ordnance items, ensuring the safety of 4,000 coalition forces, 49 aircraft and two airfields.

Vallejo was able to coordinate a 120-hour U.S. Army Air Assault course, which resulted in two EOD Airmen earning their Air Assault wings while downrange. This marked the first time in history that Airmen have graduated from the course while on a contingency operation deployment.

He continued to make a name for himself by coordinating large scale training events which he developed to focus EOD operators on real-time threats being faced down range. For one major event, he compiled intelligence on enemy tactics, techniques and procedures to coordinate with eight units from throughout the Central Command area of responsibility for a week-long field training exercise. Vallejo led 43 joint EOD technicians through 81 scenarios he developed.

While there, Vallejo then forward-deployed to Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan to support the forensics lab where he processed evidence acquired from multiple battlefields in the region leading to 16 enemy bomb makers being identified.

As a team leader, EOD technicians receive training on collecting evidence from post-blast scenes or during a normal IED response, yet Vallejo didn’t really know much about the work going on behind the scenes. His time in Afghanistan allowed him to get better idea of what happens with the evidence that is collected.

“My time at the lab opened my eyes on the science involved in processing DNA, latent print, weapons, and electronic evidence. There’s a lot of work those folks put in to try to get bad guys building IEDs to kill our brothers and sisters out of circulation,” said Vallejo. “Honestly, while my first combat deployment had its exciting moments, I feel that my time at the forensics lab was the most fulfilling of my career.”

That fulfillment Vallejo felt was further validated during Whiteman’s 2017 Annual Awards Banquet when he was announced as NCO of the Year at the wing level. Vallejo was also presented a personalized flight suit by the 509th Bomb Wing commander, Brig. Gen. John Nichols, and the 509th BW command chief, Chief Master Sgt. James Lyda. Much to his surprise, he was awarded with an incentive flight in a B-2 Spirit.

“I had an incentive flight a long time ago, but to receive one on a B-2 bomber is something I did not expect,” said Vallejo. “I don’t think any previous incentive flights could top getting a ride on the stealth bomber.”

Very few enlisted Airmen have the privilege of getting to fly in the B-2, a privilege that one can earn through hard work and superior performance.

“Tech. Sgt. Vallejo is a savagely aggressive leader with strategic vision that consistently exercises extreme ownership over all facets necessary to project airpower in today’s challenging world,” said Senior Master Sgt. Alejandro Rodriguez, the 509th Civil Engineer Squadron EOD flight chief. “He honed his abilities and skills to not only survive, but thrive in any hostile environment. He is an Airman warrior and it is my honor to serve alongside him.”

Vallejo’s attributes his success to the support system surrounding him.

“This award could not be possible without the support of my wife Laura, and my kids Brayden and Mylie, who put up with me being gone for so long this past year, and have supported me in everything I do,” said Vallejo. “I am also lucky to be a part of an awesome, savagely aggressive Whiteman EOD brotherhood, with leadership that has supported us in every endeavor.

I view this recognition as a team award that I would not have received without the love and patience of my family and the motivation and guidance from my EOD brothers. I feel that this honor is validation that with an awesome team backing you up, it is possible to dream big and affect change in an organization to directly enhance mission success.”