Outstanding Airman of the Year U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. George Distel

HOLLOMAN AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. — The 49th Wing’s mission is to empower and train combat-ready Airmen. For U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. George Distel, that mission is rooted in the discipline to act under pressure, trust in the team beside him and prepare others for the realities of deployment.

Distel, 49th Security Forces Squadron plans and programs superintendent, was named a 49th Wing Outstanding Airman of the Year for the experience, leadership and commitment he brings to developing the next generation of Defenders.

During a recent deployment in support of base defense and force protection operations, Distel filled the role of a senior master sergeant during a period of heightened regional tension. His responsibilities included translating intelligence and threat trends into security measures that helped protect the installation.

“We would take intelligence and trends from the base and funnel it into security measures,” Distel said. “Part of my job was developing those security measures and pushing people out to secure the base.”

His deployment coincided with the Twelve-Day War with Iran in February 2026. For Distel and the Airmen around him, the conflict brought repeated alarms and little rest.

“The day was very similar to every other day within the Twelve-Day War,” Distel said. “We had probably three to four Alarm Reds throughout the night. It was, wake up, run to the bunker, go back to bed, and then do it again about every hour and a half.”

Despite the exhaustion and uncertainty, the mission continued. During attacks, Distel moved to a safe vantage point to provide immediate damage assessments and help leadership understand the impact on the installation.

On one occasion, the base received an Alarm Yellow, indicating an attack was expected within 30 minutes. Personnel worked to determine whether the threat involved ballistic missiles or one-way attack drones.

“We were able to determine whether it was ballistic missiles or one-way attack drones,” Distel said. “In this case, it was drones.”

The warning soon escalated to an Alarm Red after the drones breached the perimeter.

“We got confirmation and launched a Coyote missile,” Distel said. “It successfully intercepted the drone and took it out of the sky.”

For Distel, the moment demonstrated the value of Airmen who are ready to execute their responsibilities without hesitation. Personnel moved to bunkers, prepared aircraft and established defensive postures, each contributing to the installation’s ability to continue operations.

“When things like that happen, everybody snaps into action and starts executing at a higher level,” Distel said.

The intensity of a contested environment can also take a mental toll.

“You do see a lot of burnout with it because everybody’s fighting to stay alive, fighting to get home to their loved ones and fighting for their teammates,” Distel said.

Distel’s more than 15 years of experience, including working alongside foreign militaries and supporting convoy operations in Afghanistan and Africa, helped prepare him for those circumstances. Equally important was his confidence in the people around him.

Now back at Holloman, Distel is applying those lessons to the 49th Wing mission. He aims to help Airmen prepare not only for the tactical demands of deployment, but also for the mental and emotional demands that come with operating under sustained pressure.

“One of my big goals in coming back was to be able to share that information with people,” Distel said. “That way they could mentally prepare for whatever deployment is coming, get their mind right and trust their training.”

His recognition as an Outstanding Airman of the Year reflects that commitment to mission readiness and mentorship. For Distel, the award is tied to the same principle that carried him through deployment: mission success depends on disciplined training, confidence in the team and the ability to remain focused when it matters most.

“When I joined the military, it was to serve my country,” Distel said. “I trusted my leaders, and ultimately that day goes down as a success in my book.”

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