Moody CE Airman named Air Force best

  • Published
  • By by Airman 1st Class Jarrod Grammel
  • 23rd Wing Public Affairs
MOODY AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. --  U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Dallas Bozeman returned from an Afghanistan deployment to find he was nominated, and later won, the Maj. Gen. Eugene A. Lupia non-commissioned officer category Award.

Bozeman is an explosive ordnance disposal technician with the 820th Combat Operations Squadron. Here, he trains members of the 820th Base Defense Group in counter improvised explosive devise tactics.

Due to the tempo of his job, Bozeman deploys for six months out of the year and uses what he learns to train the 820th BDG Airmen.

"It's good for us to continually deploy the way we do," he said. "It exposes us to the new IED trends and how different units and coalition partners operate. Then when we come back, we are able to teach these guys all this information and make them more valuable to the combatant commander."

Criteria for the Maj. Gen. Eugene A. Lupia Award was based on the whole person concept, and Bozeman distinguished himself while on and off duty. After the devastating tornado that hit Tuscaloosa, Ala., Bozeman took personal time off the help clean up the destruction.

To help further his knowledge and capabilities while on duty, Bozeman has attended numerous courses to include U.S. Army Airborne School and the Contemporary Insurgent Warfare Course at Hulburt Field, Fla.

Bozeman attributes a lot of his success to the people he has worked with while deployed. He said there are many challenges about performing EOD duties downrange but wouldn't do anything else.

"I love it," said Bozeman. "I'll never do anything but EOD. The best part is the brotherhood. Whenever you're working with your team, your life is in their hands. I can't think of another career field that requires you to put as much trust in your team as EOD.

"If there was anyone I could point out, it would be my team from Afghanistan, Staff Sgt. Scott Love and Senior Airman Thane Adams," he added. "They saved my life on more than one occasion, and they were the best EOD team I could ask for."

Although Bozeman realizes the danger in his own job, he stays humble.

"It's a huge honor," he said. "There are so many great people out there that are more deserving. I have great leadership here that really wants to see me succeed and that makes all the difference in the world."

In addition to winning the Maj. Gen. Eugene A. Lupia Award, Bozeman was also awarded a Bronze Star Medal in April 2011.

"He is professional, dedicated, determined and humorous," said Tech. Sgt. Garret Brown, 820th COS NCO in charge of training. "He is very intelligent and is probably the best EOD technician I have ever worked with."

Bozeman also has a wife and two kids at home and says they are supportive of what he does, while at home and deployed.

With his calm and laid back demeanor, Bozeman speaks to Airmen about how to react to a possible IED during a hand-on training session. He knows the information and training he provides can save lives.