BEALE AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. –
Maj. Alison Hamel, a 713th Combat Operations Squadron intelligence officer, was named the 2013 Headquarters Pacific Air Forces Reserve/Guard Officer of the Year and the 2013 PACAF Air Force Intelligence, Surveillance & Reconnaissance Awards Program Reserve Officer of the Year.
"It's definitely an honor, not so much from the perspective of winning, but the fact that people thought highly enough of me that they wanted to take the time to submit me for the award in the first place," Hamel said. "Writing up these annual packages is no quick feat."
A traditional reservist, Hamel supported the PACAF intelligence community in day-to-day operations, exercises, humanitarian support missions, as well as regional issues.
"Major Hamel has been an instrumental member of the our directorate and the operations division total force, helping bridge the gap while two active duty members were deployed," said Col. Eva Jenkins, PACAF director of ISR. "She is most deserving of the award as her expertise was key during several events, including Operation Damayan, Exercise Keen Edge 2014, and the Area Defense Integration Zone implementation, as well as several strategy initiatives to advance the PACAF commander's theater strategy construct."
Hamel joined the 713th COS, Detachment 1, at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, in October 2012. Previously, she was an individual mobilization augmentee with the 70th ISR Wing at Fort Meade, Md. In 2012, she was put on military personnel appropriate orders for eight months at Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe in Belgium before moving to Hawaii.
"I got orders to PACOM in 2010 and loved it here," Hamel said. "So when it was time to change to a new reserve unit, I was determined to find a billet in Hawaii. This is the longest I have been in one place, so Hawaii feels the closest to a home."
Hamel will attend the year-long U.S. Army's Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kan., this summer. After that, her options are open for another assignment.
"I hope to return to Hawaii and remain with the 713th COS or find a joint billet at PACOM," Hamel said.