Nellis Air Force Base officer awarded aerospace trophy

Dick Benoit

Thursday, Sept. 18, 2003 | 8:42 a.m.

A Nellis Air Force Base tactician is the first officer below the rank of general in more than a decade, and the first major in four decades to win an Air Force award recognizing achievement of the year's "most outstanding progress in aerospace."

Major Robert Sheehan, commander of the 328th Weapons Squadron at the base, was recently announced as this year's recipient of the Thomas D. White Space trophy, named after the fourth chief of staff of the Air Force.

Sheehan was awarded the trophy based on the key role he played in the development of tactics and doctrine for the best deployment of space capabilities in future conflicts.

Air Force officials also lauded Sheehan's efforts to integrate space capabilities into the combat that took place in Afghanistan supporting the quick removal of the Taliban regime, as well as the rescue of American soldiers and airmen.

According to a Nellis spokesman, Staff Sgt. Chris Stagner, the major will be presented with the trophy on Nov. 21 during the annual Air Force Association Space Symposium.

Marines commendation

Marine Corps Sgt. Brandon Turner, Bonanza High School class of 1998 and son of Carolyn and Brownell Turner of Las Vegas, recently received the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal while assigned to Marine Wing Support Group 37, San Diego.

While serving as network administrator, Turner wired and configured computers and networks for his command's detachments in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

His supervisor noted that Turner's expertise of data networks ensured timely and reliable communications on both classified and unclassified networks.

221st Cavalry commander

Col. Johnny Isaak recently assumed command of the Nevada Army National Guard 221st Cavalry from outgoing squadron commander Lt. Col. Steven Spitze. Isaak, who began his career with the Nevada Army Guard in 1986, assumed command of the 1/221st following a four-year stint as the logistics staff officer at the state headquarters in Carson City.

Spitze, who served as the commander of the 1/221st since August 2001, has become the assistant U.S. property and fiscal officer for the state. He resides in Reno.

The 1/221st Cavalry's mission is to portray an opposition force for American and allied armor forces in training situations. The 1/221st Cavalry provides a heavy battle punch with more than 50 M1A1 Abrams tanks.

In brief