Good evening, ladies and gentlemen.
It is a true honor to be here this evening to speak about a tremendous National Guardsman.
Thank you for the opportunity to join this phenomenal group. When I look out at the awardees and presenters from every branch of our Joint Force, it makes me proud to wear this uniform.
First off, a big thank you to the USO for everything you do, day in and day out, to lift the spirits of our service members. You’re a little piece of home when home is a long way away. And a special thanks for recognizing one of our own tonight.
And to the families—the real heroes behind the heroes—thank you. None of this happens without your love, your patience and your strength.
Now, I get the privilege of talking about an incredible National Guardsman, our Guardsman of the Year. He’s someone who embodies everything we mean when we say “Always Ready, Always There.”
And if you want proof of his dedication, he can’t be with us tonight—because he’s still deployed with his unit, finishing the job. That’s just the kind of leader he is.
Master Sgt. Jon Osterhout of the Colorado Air National Guard took on a high-risk, short-notice deployment to Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia. He didn’t just answer the call—he volunteered for it.
When he hit the ground, he was immediately thrust into the demanding role of production expediter.
Operating under the perpetual threat of hostile fire, he led a 585-member joint team through a staggering 617 percent surge in aircraft across five different airframes.
Think about that. His leadership guided more than 14,500 maintenance actions, generating 2,500 combat sorties.
Those missions enabled 29 aerial victories and guided 671 munitions, crippling enemy capabilities. The result was a monumental 87 percent decrease in hostile missile attacks in that region.
He didn’t just do his job—he saved lives and changed the battlefield. You are what your results say you are, and those results speak volumes. They bend the odds in our favor.
But his influence extends beyond the battlefield. While spearheading that intense air campaign, he also directed the flight’s emergency management program, accountable for the safety of more than 600 personnel and directing crucial repairs across 13 shelters.
And in a combat environment where rest is rare, he still invested his personal time to develop the next generation of leaders, volunteering as an instructor for the Joint Top Three Airpower Leadership Academy to mentor 16 NCOs.
That’s what getting after it looks like.
I want to read you a few words from the man himself:
“I am writing to express my gratitude for being selected as the USO National Guardsman of the Year. To be recognized with such a prestigious award is a profound honor, and I am incredibly humbled. It is with regret that I must decline the invitation to attend the gala. My unit is currently deployed, and I firmly believe that my place is here, on mission, alongside the very service members whose dedication and sacrifice made this recognition possible. I could not have received this award without my brothers and sisters in arms, and I cannot, in good conscience, celebrate this achievement while they are downrange and away from their loved ones. This award is a testament to the collective effort and unwavering spirit of my entire team. They are the true honorees.”
He signed it, “Semper Fi.”
That says it all, doesn’t it? It’s about the team. It’s always about the team.
While we wish he could be here to receive this award himself, it’s fitting that he’s right where he wants to be—serving his country, leading his team and making us all unbelievably proud.
Congratulations to Master Sgt. Jon Osterhout. We’re sending our prayers to you, the 140th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron and all our units in harm’s way.
Accepting this award on his behalf is Chief Master Sgt. Joshua D. Moore, command chief of the Air National Guard.
Thank you.