927th Reservists honored by Tampa Chamber

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Shawn Rhodes
  • 927th Air Refueling Wing
TAMPA, Fla. --  "A series of noble acts under the harshest of conditions," said Col. David Sutherland about the men and women gathered before him.

Although a battle-hardened veteran himself, Sutherland was not standing before a formation in the sands of Iraq or the valleys of Afghanistan. When he spoke those words, he was standing in a crowded room in a waterside hotel on the shores of Tampa bay, addressing a group of servicemembers and civilians. Sutherland was the keynote speaker at an event that recognized the service of three of the 927th Air Refueling Wing's reservists for their noble acts.

Major Brandon Acosta, the assistant flight commander of the 63rd Air Refueling Squadron, Maj. Brett Wedding, commander of the 927th Logistics Readiness Squadron, and Tech. Sgt. Scott Sendtko, an aerospace ground equipment technician with the 927th Maintenance Squadron were all recognized for their outstanding service by the Tampa Chamber of Commerce at the ceremony held Feb. 15, 2012.

Acosta was named the 927th ARW Military Citizen of the Year for his work with an aviation career education academy, dedicating his time to the youth of under-developed communities about science, technology, engineering, and math in aviation.
Wedding was named the 927th ARW Military Officer of the Year for his community service and fundraising efforts with multiple charitable organizations. As the chair of Aedan's Foundation, he was responsible for being a top contributor to a fundraiser that raised nearly $120,000.

Sendtko was named the 927th ARW Enlisted Member of the Year for his leadership in the 927th ARW's Honor Guard, where he serves as the Non-Commissioned Officer In-Charge. The all-reserve honor guard regularly performs at official ceremonies, funerals, and military events.

Sutherland was on hand to congratulate the award winners and emphasize the military's role in the community it serves to protect.

"(The troops) are phenomenal, and they are coming home to your community," Sutherland said to a crowd of Tampa Bay civic leaders. The colonel said he had no concern about the state of the young people of today, because he had seen them in action on the battlefield just as the gathered leaders had seen them in action in their communities.

The 2012 Military Appreciation banquet is an annual banquet that recognizes the outstanding service of both active duty and reserve servicemembers in the Tampa community.