LAAFB Clinic Personnel Named Among Tops in Space Command Published Dec. 18, 2009 By Alicia Garges SMC Public Affairs LOS ANGELES AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Ten 61st Air Base Wing Medical Clinic employees have won the top honors in the 2009 Air Force Space Command Medical Awards Contest. The AFSPC Command Surgeon's Office announced the winners earlier this month. "Three hundred and twenty-six award packages were submitted representing outstanding Airmen from every AFSPC Medical Treatment Facility. Selection as an AFSPC winner is a testament to the professionalism and dedication of the individual, the team and the leadership," said Col. Lee Payne, AFSPC command surgeon in a message announcing the winners. This year's winners from LAAFB are: Outstanding Base Bioenvironmental Engineering Noncommissioned Officer: Tech. Sgt. Nancy Connell The Alan W. London Company Grade Officer Psychologist: Capt. Stephen Stouder Outstanding Clinical Laboratory Manager: Capt. Juram Balsa Colonel P. Timothy Ray Outstanding Company Grade Officer Optometrist: Capt. Brian Blanchard The Chief Master Sgt. Michael A. Gambuti Airman Pharmacy Technician: Airman First Class Justin Viator Outstanding Physical Medicine Craftsman: Tech. Sgt. Melissa Lopez Outstanding Health Benefits Advisor: Rosie Manning Outstanding Resource Management Noncommissioned Officer: Tech. Sgt. Rudys Garcia The Brigadier General Peter C. Bellisario Young Health Care Administrator: Capt. Crystal Williams Outstanding Health Plan Management Officer: Lt. Travis Wittick "The AFSPC 2009 Medical Service awards won by the 61st Med Group Airmen validated what we already knew about our outstanding medics. This team gives exceptional support to the warfighter, base and community every day and we are extremely proud of them," said Col. Dale Ferguson, 61st Medical Group commander. Winners at the AFSPC-level will go on to compete at the Air Force- level in their respective categories against the winners from other commands. The winners at the Air Force-level will be announced sometime in 2010.