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Samuelsons selected as Gen. and Mrs. Jerome F. O’Malley Award nominees

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Mackenzie Richardson
  • 92nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. --  Col. Ryan Samuelson and Mrs. Kathy Samuelson have been selected as Air Mobility Command’s 2018 Gen. and Mrs. Jerome F. O’Malley Award nominees for their efforts in supporting Team Fairchild, the Air Force and the surrounding community.

The Gen. and Mrs. Jerome F. O'Malley Award is given annually to the wing commander and spouse team whose contributions to the nation, the Air Force and the local community best exemplify the highest ideals and positive leadership of a military couple in a key Air Force position.

“I've known the Samuelsons for quite a few years and have had the pleasure of serving with them during two separate assignments,” said Col. Scot Heathman, 92nd Air Refueling Wing vice commander. “As leaders in their individual roles, they model the type of commander-spouse team you want serving at the wing level and they do it with grace and humility.”

Gen. Jerome F. O’Malley was an Air Force four-star general who served as Vice Chief of Staff, commander of the Pacific Air Forces and commander of Tactical Air Command. O’Malley and his wife, Diane, were known for their leadership and contributions to Air Force families and communities before their tragic death in 1985.

Gen. O’Malley often told his staff, “You have three priorities: First to yourself, second to your family and third to the Air Force. Unless the first two are in order, the third one can’t be.”

“No matter what the issues are, big or small, [the Samuelsons] own it and collaborate with others to find solutions,” Heathman said. “They work tirelessly with numerous organizations, both on and off base, to ensure they are not only meeting Team Fairchild's needs, but also those of the surrounding community.”

Since taking command of the 92nd ARW in 2016, Col. Samuelson and Mrs. Samuelson have led a team of over 3,300 personnel and their families through AMC's Mobility Guardian exercise, an $11 billion electronic health record transition and the wing’s largest Air Force Ball. Additionally, they joined with base agencies to facilitate 54 support and morale events, volunteered over 960 hours with the Airman and Family Readiness Center and generated partnerships with the local community.

“I've never met a commander-spouse team more involved, more caring and more invested in their current roles than Col. Ryan Samuelson and Mrs. Kathy Samuelson,” Heathman concluded. “It's been an honor to watch them both in action and learn from their experience.”