JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas – The U.S. Air Force has named a New Jersey Air National Guardsman its 2024 Female Athlete of the Year.
Master Sgt. Danielle Todman, a services journeyman with the New Jersey National Guard’s 177th Force Support Squadron, 177th Fighter Wing, Egg Harbor Township, N.J., is a powerlifter who competes nationally and internationally in the 76-kilogram weight class.
The Air Force also named Master Sgt. Aaron Lin, a multi-sport athlete, its 2024 Male Athlete of the Year.
The Athlete of the Year Board at the Air Force Services Center evaluated more than 20 entries, looking for achievements, leadership, discipline and resiliency before deciding on the winners, said Tech. Sgt. Tamra Villanueva, DAF Sports manager and board facilitator at AFSVC.
Female Athlete of the Year
In March 2024, Todman competed in many events at the U.S. Virgin Islands Powerlifting Nationals. She won first place in classic bench and equipped bench events, captured second place overall in the open 76-kg category, and earned the titles of 76kg Equipped National Champion and Best Lifter.
During the International Powerlifting Federation Bench Press World Championship in May, Todman again showcased her equipped bench press strength and won fifth place overall to solidify her position on the global circuit.
At the International Powerlifting Federation Open World Championship in November, she again showed her strength on the world stage in the deadlift event when she ranked sixth place overall, becoming the first female athlete to rank in the top 10 globally in multiple sports.
Todman also was a dedicated powerlifting coach and handler for the North American Powerlifting Championships. She represented the U.S. Virgin Islands and guided participants to success in various weight classes, including first place overall in the master’s class for a world record. She also coached USA Track and Field open and master athletes to outstanding finishes in the New Jersey and New York Open and Masters Track and Field Championship.
To encourage sports in her local community and raise awareness of a developmental disorder, Todman organized the 2024 World Autism Day Race on Kindness. The event drew 250 participants for a 1-mile and 5-kilometer run and raised more than $2,500 for a local school that specializes in supporting children who have autism.
In her National Guard unit, Todman was awarded a Meritorious Service Medal for her contributions to the wing fitness program. Her work with the program led to a 35% reduction in physical fitness test failures over three years.
Todman’s biggest motivators are her faith, her family and her failures.
“My faith and family have kept me grounded so I could root and grow. Their fruits are the words that have refined me to be not just a better athlete but a better woman,” she said. “My failures have motivated me because I’ve learned they weren’t fatal. They were lessons that opened my heart and eyes to be more receptive to the things I needed to be my blessed and best for myself and others.”
Todman’s achievements were evident at all levels during the award period, Villanueva said.
“As an athlete of an individual sport, it’s important to note that although she was supported by friends, family and colleagues, it was her discipline and hard work that got her on those podiums,” the technical sergeant said. “Her dedication to coaching, not only in her sport but other athletic disciplines, also helping her earn athlete of the year honors.”
Athletes & Airmen
Life lessons learned while playing a sport transfer to military service, Villanueva said, because they “create that sense of community and support amongst team members, developing that strong mental resiliency by staying focused under pressure and dealing with stress … sports help you develop as a warfighter and leader as we all work together towards a common goal of mission success on behalf of our nation.”
Todman and Lin agreed that sports help them be better Airmen, mentors and leaders.
“Being an athlete helps me be an example of ‘there is promise in process,’” Todman said. “I’m able to speak to the promise in both my Airmen and athletes. I’ve learned to see each person in the seasons they’re in personally and better speak to their motivation and the core of who they are as individuals. Learning and teaching patience, grace, commitment and dedication help me to be better every day as both an athlete and Airman.”
Winning athlete of the year honors inspires Todman to continue to push her limits and strive for excellence, she said.
“But more importantly, I hope me winning inspires people to continue working their process and trusting in it so they can walk in their promise,” Todman said.
Lin agreed, saying athletics builds his resiliency and makes him a better Airman, wingman and warfighter.
“When I was in Afghanistan and Iraq as an explosive ordnance disposal technician, I had to have perseverance, that warrior mindset, because when people called EOD, it meant they’d run out of options. You have to rely on your own resiliency … if your team is down, you still have to push through whether that’s on the field of sports or field of battle,” he said.