320th STS Combat Controller named 2014 AFSOC Outstanding Airman of the Year

From left, Col. William Freeman, 353rd Special Operations Group commander, Staff Sgt. Travis Jordan and his wife, Christina, and Chief Master Sgt. Gilbert Edwards, 353rd SOG command chief, pose for a picture during a banquet honoring the Air Force Special Operations Command's 2014 Outstanding Airmen and Civilians of theYear held May 14 at Hurlburt Field, Fla. Jordan, a combat controller, assigned to the 320th Special Tactics Squadron, was recognized as AFSOC’s Airman of the Year and will compete in the airman category for the 2015 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year Award. (Courtesy Photo)

320th STS Combat Controller named 2014 AFSOC Outstanding Airman of the Year

Staff Sgt. Travis Jordan pose for a picture with his wife, Christina, during a banquet honoring the Air Force Special Operations Command's 2014 Outstanding Airmen and civilians of the year held May 14 at Hurlburt Field, Fla. Jordan, a combat controller, assigned to the 320th Special Tactics Squadron, was recognized as AFSOC’s Airman of the Year and will compete in the airman category for the 2015 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year Award. (Courtesy Photo)

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Air Force Special Operations Command's 2014 Outstanding Airmen and civilians of the year were honored at the yearly awards banquet held May 14 to celebrate their accomplishments and 25 years of AFSOC history. Lt. Gen. Brad Heithold (left), AFSOC commander and CMSgt. Matt Caruso (right), command chief, presented awards to this year's honorees -- Staff Sgt. Travis Jordan, Airman of Year; Tech. Sgt. William Phelps, noncommissioned officer of year; Master Sgt. Daniel Wey, senior noncommissioned officer of year; Master Sgt. Marvin Jimerson, first sergeant of year; Capt. Samantha Ekwall, company grade officer of year; Staff Sgt. Danielle Szymczyk, individual reservist of year (enlisted); Capt. Stefanie Purdie, individual reservist of year (officer); Samuel Krahn, civilian of year category I; Daniel Wilcoxen, civilian of year category II; Jorge Talamantes, civilian of year category III.

320th STS Combat Controller named 2014 AFSOC Outstanding Airman of the Year

Published May 27, 2015
By Tech. Sgt. Kristine Dreyer
353rd Special Operations Group Public Affairs

KADENA AIR BASE, Japan -- Staff Sgt. Travis Jordan, 320th Special Tactics Squadron, was named as one of Air Force Special Operations Command Outstanding Airmen of the Year during an annual banquet held May 14 at Hurlburt Field, Fla.

“I had the honor of getting to know Sergeant Jordan and his wife Christina the past couple of days in Florida, and they are truly an amazing Air Force and Air Commando couple,” said Col. William Freeman, 353rd Special Operations Group commander. “Travis exemplifies the Air Force core values and the SOF ethos both with his actions on the battlefield and in his personal life. He is truly an outstanding Airman, and I couldn’t be prouder for him and his family on being formally recognized as such by the senior leaders of AFSOC.”

While deployed for 6 months to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, Jordan served as the primary Joint Terminal Attack Controller on a Special Forces team. During his tour, Jordan completed 19 combat missions. After sustaining injuries himself during one mission, Travis called in a medical evacuation and continued directing airstrikes that eliminated two Taliban commanders while saving four of his teammates. He was awarded the Purple Heart and a Bronze Star with Valor for his actions.

At home station, Jordan also received the John L. Levitow award upon graduating Airman Leadership School.

While assigned to the 320th Special Tactics Squadron, Jordan also participated in Joint Chief of Staff Exercises and Joint Combined Exchange Training in four countries across the Pacific where he enhanced interoperability among U.S. Allies and partners by participating in and conducting training with key special operations partners in the Pacific.

As AFSOC’s Outstanding Airman of the Year, Jordan along with all of AFSOC’s Outstanding Airmen and Civilians of the Year award recipients toured the facilities and units around Hurlburt Field and also visited with residents of the Air Force Enlisted Village the days prior to the award banquet. Travis will represent AFSOC while going on to compete in the Airman category for the 2015 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year Award.