TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. —
Since 1968, the 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year award has been presented to 12 individuals who display superior leadership, job performance, community involvement and personal achievements over each year.
On July 24, it was announced that one of those Airmen, U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Cory Green, 60th Security Forces Squadron installation security noncommissioned officer in charge, was awarded this distinction.
During the last year, Green developed a small arms training plan to enhance gunfighter capabilities and was also chosen to develop Air Mobility Command’s sustainment fire concept of operations. Additionally, he commanded an armed response to an active shooter threat at the Air Force’s largest medical center.
He was born and raised in Bakersfield, California, and is the second youngest of four children, two brothers and one sister. His father served in the U.S. Army as a clerk, his oldest brother in the Army as a medic and his other brother as an aerial gunner in the Air Force. While Green grew up with a significant amount of exposure to military life, joining the Air Force was not something Green planned to do after high school.
“Watching my family at a young age, the exposure I had to the military made it a natural option for me to join,” said Green. “However, it wasn’t my first choice out of high school. Interestingly, I didn’t actively choose to join security forces; rather, it feels like security forces chose me.”
With initial plans to join for four years and pursue higher education, Green learned to embrace his role within the Air Force, security forces and the responsibility it carried.
“Despite not initially choosing this path, I’ve grown to love my role and the opportunities it has provided over the past 16 years,” said Green. “Security forces may have chosen me, but staying in this career field has been my choice, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
Although this is considered an individual award, Green believes he would not have won this award if not for his team here.
“I owe a lot to the incredible people I’ve worked with, who helped me grow as a leader,” said Green. “I feel humbled because I work alongside so many amazing Airmen. This experience [and recognition] is new and a bit unusual for me, but I’m incredibly grateful to my team for guiding me in the right direction and helping me achieve this great honor. I truly couldn’t have done it without them.”
According to Senior Master Sgt. Krystoffer Miller, 60th Security Forces Squadron operations superintendent, his first thoughts about Green’s selection as Outstanding Airman of the Year was a mix of shock and sheer pride for one of the hardest working noncommissioned officers he ever met.
“Although I have only known him since October 2023, I would say his airmanship can be highlighted by three key traits: tactician, professional and relentless,” said Miller. “His ability to identify and correct training flaws is unfathomed, as he has proven time and time again, he is a force multiplier in his own right.”
