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Tyndall officer earns Bronze Star

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Rachelle Elsea
  • 325th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  Major Jefferson DeBerry, 325th Operations Support Squadron airfield operations flight commander, was recently awarded a Bronze Star in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM.

"I feel honored," said Major DeBerry. "The team I worked with truly deserves the recognition. It was a great experience working with all our international coalition partners."

During his deployment to Kabul, Afghanistan, from Jan. 24 through July 27, Major DeBerry acted as the Liaison Officer to the Afghan Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation, Air Plans and Projects, Headquarters, International Security Assistance Force.

"It was an honor to work with the Minister, Deputy Ministers, and their staff on a daily basis," said Major DeBerry. "The Afghans were incredibly hospitable and some of the nicest people I have met."

Even with good surroundings, his mission was no easy feat.

"I was the only American in my chain of command and worked directly for a Spanish Air Force brigadier general," said Major DeBerry. "I was on the front lines assisting the Afghan government, so they could stand up on their own and transition our military forces back home."

Through the combined discipline of Major DeBerry and his teammates, they were able to overcome several obstacles.

"Our efforts thwarted an insurgent attack on an Afghan airfield used by United States military personnel, we provided Search and Rescue support when an Afghan airliner crashed in the mountains, and with three day's notice, we rallied to locate a bandwidth satellite provider and signed a $10 million contract to ensure seamless radar and air traffic control radio coverage across Afghanistan," said Major DeBerry. "I also drafted letters for the Commander of International Security Assistance Force, urging President Karzai to pass the Civil Aviation Law, which sat in gridlock in their government for four years."

Major DeBerry commissioned in 1999 from the Air Force Academy, where he majored in Operations Research and minored in Mathematics, and has been in the Unites States Air Force for 11 years.

Major DeBerry and his family transferred to Tyndall from Travis Air Force Base, Calif., in July of 2009. He is extremely enthusiastic to be stationed here and even more appreciative of those who are around him.

"I'm honored to have the chance to work with so many great people, both military and civilians," said Major DeBerry. "We have 120 personnel in our organization, and the people are the best part of the job. They volunteered to be a part of the best Air Force in the world, knowing they'd have to spend six months or more downrange and away from their families."