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First Air Force pilot honored with three distinguished awards, promotion

  • Published
  • By Carol Carpenter
  • AFNORTH PA
TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla --  Exemplary service can lead to exemplary reward. That is exactly what happened Wednesday to Air Force fighter pilot Colonel George A. Uribe when he was presented with not one, but three, prestigious military awards for his outstanding service to the Air Force.

Surrounded by family, friends and fellow Air Force colleagues, Colonel Uribe, an accomplished F-16 pilot, was awarded the Bronze Star Medal, the Air Medal and the Meritorious Service Medal. He was also promoted from lieutenant colonel to colonel.

The Bronze Star Medal and Air Medal were given for his combat service during Operation Iraqi Freedom from September 2007 to March 2008. The Meritorious Service Medal was added for his notable work related to 1st Air Force's homeland air defense and disaster support missions.

During his service in Iraq, Colonel Uribe served as deputy commander for the 332d Expeditionary Operations Group, 332d Air Expeditionary Wing, where he commendably led 1,500 Airmen in more than 15 squadrons in continuous ground support missions. He also distinguished himself by flying 20 successful on-call close air support missions.
The Bronze Star Medal is awarded to a recipient who distinguished himself or herself by heroic or meritorious achievement or service in connection with military operations against an armed enemy or while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing armed force.

The Air Medal is awarded to a person who has distinguished himself or herself by meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight on a regular and frequent basis in the performance of their primary duties. This was Colonel Uribe's fourteenth Air Medal in his career, an astounding achievement.

He was given the Meritorious Service Medal for outstanding service during his current tenure at 1st Air Force, where he serves as chief of the organization's Standardization and Evaluation office. His accomplishments include overseeing successful operational inspections and assessments, helping ensure the readiness of combat support units and assisting with 1st Air Force's rescue and recovery efforts during Hurricanes Gustav and Ike in 2008.

Maj. Gen. Hank Morrow, 1st Air Force commander who presided over the ceremony, lauded Colonel Uribe as one of the finest Airmen he has known during his Air Force career. Calling the event "historic," he said it was the first time in his long career that he had been privileged to award an Airman with three significant medals and promote him as well.

"It is a distinct honor to present the fifth highest combat decoration -- a Bronze Star -- to a fellow aviator," General Morrow said. "He put his own life at risk, and showed courage, dedication and leadership in Iraq. His actions reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force."

Colonel Uribe, who joined the Air Force more than 20 years ago, said he is extremely honored to be the recipient of three such highly esteemed military decorations. "It is great to be recognized by the Air Force for hard work and sacrifice," he said, emphasizing, however, that he never marks any accomplishment as his alone.

"The Air Force is an organizational success story," he said. "For every successful combat or homeland defense mission, it took a great Air Force team to make it happen."

The first and only Air Force fighter pilot to accrue more than 1,000 combat flying hours in an F-16, Colonel Uribe has deployed eight times to the Middle East and will soon leave for another one-year deployment to Afghanistan.

He said he is pleased and proud to have had the opportunity to help defend and support U.S. Army ground troops during his time in Iraq. "We were there to help save lives, and I know they appreciated our efforts," he said.

Commenting on his current position at 1st Air Force, which includes homeland air defense and supporting civil authorities during hurricanes and other disasters, Colonel Uribe said he is equally proud to take part in the Air Force mission right here at home.

"I was especially happy to be part of a team that had an impact in saving lives and providing humanitarian assistance during last year's hurricanes," he said.

Colonel Uribe was joined at the promotion portion of the ceremony by his wife, Rita, and daughter, Katie, who pinned his new silver eagles, the insignia for colonel, onto his uniform.

The ceremony was hosted by Continental U.S. NORAD - 1st Air Force (Air Forces Northern).