LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --
Reserve Citizen Airman Technical Sgt. Orlando Rodriguez, 944th Operations Group Detachment 1, was awarded the 944th Fighter Wing Non Commissioned Officer of the Year for 2021. Rodriguez managed a $2.3M airfield program during deployment. He organized the repair of 210 lightning systems which increased night operations across three airfields. Over the year, Rodriguez led a Fire Warden program and executed 26 safety inspections, identified and eliminated 25 inoperable fire prevention equipment which protected 150 personnel and $2.1M in facilities. He also led five personnel at a forwarding deployment location and during that time he established safety protocols and enabled 1.1K combat flights. Rodriguez accomplished six credit hours for his bachelor’s degree in Engineering, with five credits from the Community College of the Air Force. His efforts bolstered leadership skills and inspired him to mentor 60 Airmen. Rodriguez went on to graduate from a First Sgt. seminar gaining supervisory and conflict resolution skills that helped him served as undershirt during his deployment.