Hill AFB Wingman Award recently given to three in Top of Utah Published Sept. 28, 2012 Hill Public Affairs HILL AIR FORCE BASE, Utah -- Three community leaders from the Top of Utah were recently recognized for their significant support to the Team Hill community. Each was presented with the base's Wingman Award, an honor given annually to people in the community whose actions are consistently above and beyond in support of the installation. "It's an honor to work with these community Wingmen," said Col. Sarah Zabel, 75th Air Base Wing commander. "These awards are well deserved and are a token of our appreciation for unrelenting support to Hill Air Force Base and our Airmen." Col. Francis "Gabby" Gabreski, World War II pilot with 28 aerial kills is often quoted about the function of a wingman. "The Wingman is absolutely indispensable. I look after the wingman, the wingman looks after me. It's another set of eyes protecting you. That's the defensive part. Offensively, it gives you a lot more firepower. We work together. We fight together. The wingman knows what his responsibilities are knows what mine are. Wars are not won by individuals. They're won by teams," Gabreski was quoted. The Wingman Award recipients were honored with a medal and personalized portrait, which will be displayed in the Hill Aerospace Museum. This year's recipients and their accomplishments are: Peter Jenks. Jenks supports Team Hill through his professional venues and his personal endeavors. Jenks has been the Utah Defense Alliance president and currently sits as a member of the board. He has ensured support for Utah military missions, workload and force structure while developing innovative projects for the future of Team Hill. As a board member for the Southwest Defense Alliance, he supports defense, energy, national security and the nation's war fighters, with emphasis in coordinating synergies among assets in six states in the Southwest, including Utah. Jenks actively works to preserve and increase Hill AFB missions by safeguarding base interests during congressional base realignment and closure proceedings. He championed F-35 future fighter aircraft operations and expansion, providing significant job growth capability. His involvement with the base has led him to several supporting organizations over the past few decades; he has served as an Ogden Air Logistics Center "LOGSTAR," a 421st Fighter Squadron honorary commander, a 388th Fighter Wing honorary commander, and was named the Viper West F-16 Demonstration Team's honorary member. In 2009, the Air Force held "Air Force Week Salt Lake City" in Utah. Jenks led from the front as a Team Hill committee member where he served as the community partner responsible for the execution of the U.S. Air Force Thunderbird reception and Mormon Tabernacle Choir concert, "A Salute to America's Air Force," at Temple Square in Salt Lake City. Team Hill is and will be a better place for decades because of Jenks' accomplishments. Brian Garrett. Garrett is a passionate supporter of Hill Air Force Base and our military. Brian's roles as a banker with Zions Bank's Military Affairs Department and as the Chair of the Top of Utah Military Affairs Committee, or TOUMAC, have enhanced the working relationship between the TOUMAC and the base. Garrett implemented a monthly planning meeting with Team Hill that ensured the TOUMAC is able to better support the base's activities and events in a coordinated and collaborative fashion. These meetings have resolved issues between the two organizations and increased participation from the community. Garrett leverages his position with the TOUMAC to foster relationships between the civilian community, service providers, and the base community and has been successful in raising thousands of dollars in donations and in-kind goods for base activities and events. Garrett also serves as the Vice Chair of the Salt Lake Chamber Military Affairs Committee where he has worked to help the Salt Lake business community become more aware of the issues and programs at Hill. Garrett was one of the early partners in helping to organize the Utah Military and Veterans Employment Coalition and now serves on the executive committee helping military members find employment once they complete their service commitments. Garrett personally assisted in drafting legislation to make education benefits more available for service members and their families by broadening the instate tuition language in Utah law. Garrett's active role in the Utah Legislature has garnered several laws supporting military members in many different programs. He is a timeless advocate for projects to improve the quality of life of our Airmen and all other service members in the state. Steve Curtis. Curtis is the mayor of Layton and a strong advocate for Team Hill. He is a member of the Military Affairs Committee, the Utah Defense Alliance Committee, a former honorary commander in the 388th Fighter Wing, "LOGSTAR" honorary commander in the 75th Air Base Wing and a Falcon alumni member in the 388th FW. He brings value-added community support and contributions to all of Hill Air Force Base. Both personally and professionally, Curtis is a constant and stalwart supporter of the United States military. Curtis is a fixture at all base and community functions and events in support and celebration of Team Hill. On countless occasions he has adjusted his work and home schedule to offer his personal support. In addition, Curtis has been vigilant about inviting military friends to concerts, rodeos, ball games and various community events. It is with humble and quiet commitment that he tirelessly works to make sure the community and Team Hill are integrated and supported fully. He does this without fanfare or need for accolades. He does this because of his sincere commitment to the men and women in uniform who sacrifice so much for our nation and for the critical importance that Hill AFB has to the entire state of Utah. As mayor of the largest city in Davis County, Curtis is always reaching out to other communities and community leaders to ensure they understand the critical importance of Team Hill's mission and is constantly rallying support for the base and military members. Curtis has been a critical voice of support within the Council of Governments (Davis County mayors and commissioners) in relation to the basing of the F-35s at Hill AFB. His dedication is to the long term sustainability of the base. He understands that the base is critical to the state and economy; and the community support for each individual member of Team Hill is critical to the success of Hill AFB.