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NATCA Celebrates its Members’ Best Work with Annual Archie League Medal of Safety and Commitment to Safety Awards; Livestream Friday, June 17 at Noon CDT

WASHINGTON – The National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) on Friday will be honoring many of its members with the annual Archie League Medal of Safety Award and the Region X Commitment to Safety Award. Details below:

WHAT: NATCA’s 16th and 17th Archie League Medal of Safety Awards, and 5th and 6th Region X Commitment to Safety Awards.

WHEN: Friday, June 17, starting at noon CDT.

WHERE: Hilton New Orleans Riverside hotel.

LIVESTREAM: Available here.

ARCHIE LEAGUE MEDAL OF SAFETY AWARD YOUTUBE PLAYLIST: Located here, and will be updated throughout Friday’s event with the audio and radar replay video from each new 2020 and 2021 winning flight assist.

ABOUT THE ARCHIE LEAGUE MEDAL OF SAFETY AWARD: The ability to think quickly and remain calm under pressure while maintaining situational awareness are just some of the unique qualities that air traffic controllers possess. Their willingness to resolve complex situations without hesitation, offer a reassuring voice to those on the frequency, and ability to coordinate their efforts with other controllers help these dedicated professionals be successful at maintaining the safety of the National Airspace System (NAS).

While many controllers often feel that they are “just doing their job,” their hard work is often viewed by others as remarkable and extraordinary. The Archie League Medal of Safety Awards, named for the first U.S. air traffic controller, were first presented in 2005 to honor exceptional air traffic controller work that took place in 2004. The program highlights a variety of aviation “saves” — some of which involve a team of controllers working together, while others are the result of one controller’s efforts.

ABOUT THE REGION X COMMITMENT TO SAFETY AWARD: The Region X Commitment to Safety Award is given annually to a NATCA Region X member (FAA-employed safety professionals from several other NATCA-represented bargaining units besides air traffic controllers) who has shown a profound dedication to ensuring the safety of the NAS.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, NATCA was unable to present the 16th (2020) and 17th (2021) Archie League Medal of Safety Award and the Region X Commitment to Safety Award to those winners at the Union’s Communicating For Safety (CFS) conference the past two years.

Below are the NATCA members being honored, with links to read full stories about the work they did to earn these awards and, in many cases, links to NATCA Podcast episodes where the winners talk first-hand about these events.

ALASKAN REGION

2020 Archie League Medal of Safety Award

Matthew Freidel, Anchorage Center (ZAN)

John Newcomb, Anchorage TRACON (A11)

View story

Listen to podcast

CENTRAL REGION

2020 Archie League Medal of Safety Award

Dean Hittner, Wichita ATCT (ICT)

Hunter Rubin, Wichita ATCT (ICT)

James Smart, Wichita ATCT (ICT)

View story

Listen to podcast

Sarah Owens, Kansas City Center (ZKC)

View story

2021 Archie League Medal of Safety Award

Ingrid Owens, Kansas City Center (ZKC)

Brett Rolofson, Kansas City Center (ZKC)

Taylor Rosenbaum, Kansas City Center (ZKC)

View story

Listen to podcast

EASTERN REGION

2020 Archie League Medal of Safety Award

Mark Dzindzio, Potomac TRACON (PCT)

View story

2021 Archie League Medal of Safety Award

Jason Dunaway, Potomac TRACON (PCT)

Joe Mash, Potomac TRACON (PCT)

Chris Rhodes, Potomac TRACON (PCT)

View story

Listen to podcast

GREAT LAKES REGION

2020 Archie League Medal of Safety Award

Bob Obma, Indianapolis Center (ZID)

View story

2021 Archie League Medal of Safety Award

Matthew Wyrick, Indianapolis Center (ZID)

View story

Listen to podcast

NEW ENGLAND REGION

2020 Archie League Medal of Safety Award

Dave Chesley, Boston TRACON (A90)

View story

Listen to podcast

2021 Archie League Medal of Safety Award

Casey Allan, Boston Center (ZBW)

View story

Listen to podcast



NORTHWEST MOUNTAIN REGION

2020 Archie League Medal of Safety Award

Byron Andrews, Seattle Center (ZSE)

Joshua Fuller, Seattle Center (ZSE)

Ryan Jimenez, Seattle Center (ZSE)

Michael Sellman, Seattle Center (ZSE)

View story

2021 Archie League Medal of Safety Award

Kevin Cleavland, Denver TRACON (D01)

Chris Keddie, Denver TRACON (D01)

Adam Schulte, Denver TRACON (D01)

View story

REGION X

2020 Region X Commitment to Safety Award

Al Arcese, Engineers New England (ENE)

View story

2021 Region X Commitment to Safety Award

RUNWAY INCURSION MITIGATION (RIM) PROGRAM PIONEER TEAM

Barry Hammer, Engineers New England (ENE)

Cindy Hirsch, Engineers Northwest Mountain (ENM)

Terry Washington, Engineers Southern Region (ESO)

View story

SOUTHERN REGION

2020 Archie League Medal of Safety Award

Marcus Troyer, Pensacola TRACON (P31)

View story

Listen to podcast

2021 Archie League Medal of Safety Award

Noah Walker, Greensboro ATCT (GSO)

View story

Listen to podcast

SOUTHWEST REGION

2020 Archie League Medal of Safety Award

Larry Bell, Fort Worth Center (ZFW)

Brian Cox, Fort Worth Center (ZFW)

Colin McKinnon, Fort Worth Center (ZFW)

View story

Listen to podcast

Christopher Clavin, Fort Worth Center (ZFW)

John (Randy) Wilkins, Fort Worth Center (ZFW)

View story

Listen to podcast

2021 Archie League Medal of Safety Award

Joe Wright, Houston TRACON (I90)

View story

Listen to podcast

WESTERN PACIFIC REGION

2020 Archie League Medal of Safety Award

Michelle Bruner, San Diego ATCT (SAN)

Jamie Macomber, San Diego ATCT (SAN)

View story

Listen to podcast

2021 Archie League Medal of Safety Award

Jeremy Hroblak, Los Angeles ATCT (LAX)

Scott Moll, Los Angeles ATCT (LAX)

CJ Wilson, Los Angeles ATCT (LAX)

View story

Listen to podcast

FEDERAL CONTRACT TOWER



2020 Archie League Medal of Safety Award

Brad Burtner, Pompano Beach FCT (PMP)

View story

Listen to podcast

CONTACT: Doug Church, Deputy Director of Public Affairs, 301-346-8245.

The National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) is a labor union and aviation safety organization in the United States that represents nearly 20,000 highly skilled air traffic controllers, engineers, and other aviation safety-related professionals. NATCA was certified in 1987 by the Federal Labor Relations Authority to be the exclusive bargaining representative for air traffic controllers employed by the Federal Aviation Administration. Today, NATCA is one of the strongest labor unions in the federal sector and represents a range of aviation safety professionals in 15 FAA bargaining units, 5 Department of Defense air traffic facilities, and 123 federal contract towers. These air traffic controllers and other aviation safety professionals make vital contributions to the U.S. economy and make modern life possible by coordinating the safe, orderly, and expeditious movement of nearly one billion aviation passengers and millions of tons of freight within the National Airspace System each year. NATCA is headquartered in Washington, D.C., and is affiliated with the AFL-CIO.

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