7 MXG superintendant receives Bronze Star Medal

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Robert Hicks
  • 7th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  A 7th Maintenance Group superintendent was presented the Bronze Star Medal by the 7 MXG commander here Jan. 22 for his actions while deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

Chief Master Sgt. Edward Jordan, 7 MXG superintendent, received the fourth-highest combat award while working as a 455th Expeditionary Maintenance Group superintendant.

"I was honored to have been awarded the Bronze Star," Chief Jordan said. "I feel a little undeserving when I think of the sacrifice and achievements of others who were awarded the Bronze Star."

While deployed to Southeast Asia, Chief Jordan was in charge of more than 850 active-duty, Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve maintenance personnel from 11 units. He was also in charge of maintenance for approximately 64 aircrafts.

"They were all motivated to do their job and looked forward to making every sortie on time," Chief Jordan said. "From the lowest ranking Airman to the group commander, everyone was committed to ensuring we did everything in our power to support the 20-year-old Soldier carrying a backpack and taking the fight to the enemy."

He established the first regional aircraft crash recovery capability to support Bagram, Airfield, and all United States Air Force flying missions in Afghanistan and adjacent South Central Asia countries as directed by Air Force Central Command.

"The project took several months to become reality and was successful due to the hard work of several experts in equipment maintenance squadron who were able to successfully work part of a project and pass it on to their successor as they rotated in and out," he said.

While deployed, Chief Jordan kept faith and stayed motivated by visiting wounded soldiers in the hospital.

"Some of the most inspiring things were visiting the wounded Soldiers in the hospital who after being shot in battle or surviving an improvised explosive devices on their convoy most often were mostly concerned about when they could get back to their unit and the fight," Chief Jordan said.