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SCW-1 Sailors in contention for Pacific Fleet sailor of year

  • Published
  • By Mike W. Ray
  • Tinker Public Affairs
TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  Two Sailors from Strategic Communications Wing ONE at Tinker AFB are finalists for the prestigious Commander, Naval Air Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet, 2013 Sailors of the Year awards.

The contenders are Naval Aircrewman Mechanical 1st Class (Naval Aircrew/Aviation Warfare) Matthew P. Meadows of Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron 4, the SCW-1 Sea Sailor of the Year, and Naval Aircrewman Avionics 1st Class (Naval Aircrew/Aviation Warfare) Ryan J. Fuhrman of Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron 7, the SCW-1 Shore Sailor of the Year.

Petty Officer Fuhrman works as an in-flight technician instructor, while Petty Officer Meadows serves as an evaluator for Naval Aviation Training and Operating Procedures Standardization.

Competition in the Sea duty category in SCW-1 encompassed Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadrons 3 and 4, while competition in the Shore duty category involved SCW-1 plus Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron 7 and the forward operating bases at Travis AFB, Calif.; Offutt AFB in Omaha, Neb.; and Patuxent River Naval Air Station, Md. The two nominees for SCW-1 were recommended by community master chiefs, but the final selections were made by Capt. Heather Cole, commander of SCW-1 and Task Force 124.

The candidates are evaluated on their annual duties and accomplishments, and graded on the individual's ability to present himself or herself before a selection board.

Petty Officers Meadows and Fuhrman are among 10 finalists, five from both the sea and shore categories, who were selected to travel to San Diego, homeport of Commander, Naval Air Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet. There, the finalists will appear before the Commander, Naval Air Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet, Sailor of the Year board, where one candidate from each category will be named SOY.

The Sailors of the Year will be announced Feb. 13 at Naval Air Station North Island in San Diego. The winners will be advanced meritoriously to the rank of chief petty officer.
"It's a great opportunity to represent the command, and I am honored to be a finalist," Petty Officer Fuhrman said.

"When I received the call notifying me of my finalist selection, I couldn't remove the smile from my face," Petty Officer Meadows said. "Words cannot express the magnitude of my feelings. This entire process has been a humbling yet exciting experience. I am truly honored to be a part of such a great organization."

Former Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Elmo Zumwalt and former Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy John Whittet established the SOY program in 1972 to recognize an individual Sailor who best represents the group of professional Sailors at each command and ultimately the Navy.

Petty Officer 1st Class Ryan Fuhrman
A Sailor with Strategic Communications Wing 1 at Tinker AFB who is a finalist for a Commander, Naval Air Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet, 2013 Sailor of the Year award deployed twice to Southwest Asia.

After Petty Officer 1st Class Ryan James Fuhrman joined the VQ-1 World Watchers at Whidbey Island, Wash., in 2004, he deployed to Bahrain and flew more than 65 combat hours in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. And in 2008 he deployed to Al Udeid, Qatar, once again in support of Iraqi Freedom.

In addition, after he was designated as an electronic warfare operator, Petty Officer Fuhrman made several deployments to Okinawa, Japan.

The Erie, Pa., native enlisted in the Navy after graduating from high school in 2002, and was transferred to Pensacola, Fla., to attend Naval Aircrew Candidate School. Afterward he relocated to Whidbey Island, where he attended Aviation Electronic Warfare School and received O-level maintenance training on the EP-3E turboprop reconnaissance aircraft.

Soon after arriving at Tinker in 2006, Petty Officer Fuhrman received O-level maintenance training on the E-6B Sentry and in-flight technician training at VQ-7, where he graduated first in his class. The following year he joined the VQ-4 Shadows. In 2009 the petty officer was made an assistant NATOPS instructor and was named the Junior Aircrewman of the Year.

In 2011 the petty officer joined the VQ-7 Roughnecks, where he received the 2012 Aircrewman of the Year award and the 2013 Senior Sailor of the Year award. His other awards include the Distinguished Air Medal (First Strike), six Navy-Marine Corps Achievement Medals, and various campaign and service medals.

Petty Officer 1st Class Matthew Meadows
Petty Officer 1st Class Matthew Meadows, SCW-1's 2013 Sea Sailor of the Year, has three siblings who also have entered the U.S. military.

Petty Officer Meadows, 30, is a native of Marrero, La., and enlisted in the Navy 13½ years ago. He is an aircrewman in Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron SEVEN at Tinker AFB; he is an evaluator for Naval Aviation Training and Operating Procedures Standardization.
Petty Officer Meadows was assigned to Tinker almost 13 years ago, and has served in both VQ-4 and VQ-7.

He earned an associate's degree in aviation technology, a bachelor's degree in criminal justice and a master's degree in public administration from the University of Oklahoma.
Petty Officer Meadows has received five Navy and Marine Corps Achievement medals, the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, and four Good Conduct medals.