Tyndall Airman receives 2007 DOD Fire Emergency Services Award Published May 13, 2008 By Staff Sgt. Vesta M. Anderson 325th Fighter Wing Public Affairs TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- He grew up in Bellwood, Ill., approximately 13 miles from downtown Chicago, and enlisted in the Air Force as a firefighter in February 2006. Twenty-six months later, Airman 1st Class Nicholas Lezza, 325th Civil Engineer Squadron fire protection journeyman, was submitted by his assistant chief for the DOD Fire Emergency Service Award for 2007. He competed among the best in the Air Education and Training Command - and won. This annual award recognizes an individual military firefighter for superior job performance and outstanding contribution to the fire service, with specific focus for on-duty related contributions to Fire and Emergency Services programs. "Airman Lezza is a hard working Airman that has done a lot for Tyndall Air Force Base and Tyndall Fire and Emergency Services," said Master Sgt. Michael Fowler, 325th Civil Engineer Squadron fire protection specialist and Airman Lezza's supervisor. "It is his actions and commitment to help others that sets him apart and why he deserved to be nominated." Airman Lezza wanted to become a firefighter long before he joined the Air Force. "Being in the service of others is the only thing that has ever given me a sense of fulfillment," said Airmen Lezza. "It's visible, immediate and visceral." His primary day-to-day mission is to locate, isolate and mitigate all fire and emergency situations at Tyndall Air Force Base. To Airmen Lezza, knowing his job makes a real, tangible difference gives him a sense of pride. "My job provides me opportunity to help in so many different capacities," said Airman Lezza, "but, saving a life is possibly the best feeling I've ever known and I've been given that chance - more than once." Airman Lezza's award package lists accomplishments he achieved in 2007, which include being selected as 325th CES Airman of the Year, ranking number one out of 68 peers. He mitigated approximately 490 emergencies with zero DOD fire losses. "I have always done the best job I can," said Airman Lezza. "I don't believe in beginning something without the intentions of putting everything you've have behind it. It's a reflection of your work ethic and character, and I feel both shine through in the finished product." He was informed of his win while he was at home studying. "I got a phone call from the alarm room at 10 p.m.," Airman Lezza recalls. He was told to make sure his uniform was in inspection order because the following morning he would be going before the base commander. "I was caught off guard and responded nervously, 'Why? What did I do wrong?'" he remembered. "They asked if anyone had told me and, if not, congrats because I had won AETC firefighter of the year - 'now go iron your uniform.'" "I was extremely excited and filled with pride," expressed the Airman. "It was an honor itself just to compete among the best in our career field." In hindsight, Airman Lezza doesn't attribute his motivation or success to a single mentor, but rather an accumulation of personalities he happened across. It is his strife for more information, gathering it from the more experienced firefighters, which makes him a model for others to follow, his supervisor expressed. Sergeant Fowler calls him a "go-getter" who absorbs information given to him. "I really listen to what people have to say," expresses Airman Lezza. "I think a lot can be learned when you close your mouth and open your ears to those around you." His opinion has served him well. His package now moves ahead to the Air Force level competition - if he wins there, his package will compete at the coveted DOD level, the highest level achievable for this award. "This symbolizes everything I swore to myself I would do," said Airman Lezza. "I always shoot for the stars because if you fall short, you will still hit higher then to have aimed for mediocrity and achieved it." "I want to make a difference," said Airman Lezza, "to leave this world better than when I came into it."