Ramstein captain wins prestigious leadership award

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Scott Saldukas
  • 435th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany --  Moving 95 soldiers and 20 tons of equipment on the ground in a deployed environment within 48 hours of tasking is just one of many reasons a Ramstein Airman received the prestigious Lance P. Sijan Air Force Leadership Award.

The commander of the U.S. Air Forces in Europe, Gen. Roger A. Brady, presented the award to Capt. Michael S. Rellick Dec. 17, 2008, at the NATO headquarters building here.

The award, named after the first Air Force Academy graduate to receive the Medal of Honor, recognizes Airmen who have displayed selfless service and excellent leadership skills while assigned to an organization at the wing level and below.

Captain Rellick, the 86th Air Mobility Squadron Aerial Port Flight commander, who is married to Sonia Rellick, from Shalimar, Fla., first made the decision to become a commissioned officer in the Air Force while in college.

"In my junior year of college I wanted job stability and a career that embraced the warrior ethos," said the captain, a Latrobe, Pa., native.

After graduating the Reserve Officers' Training Corps program from West Virginia University, he was assigned to Hurlburt Field Air Force Base, Fla. He was also stationed at Osan Air Base, Korea, before becoming the operations support branch deputy chief and then the assistant executive officer to the commander of the Component Command Air Headquarters here.

Captain Rellick did his share of things to improve the Air Force's mission while stationed at the NATO HQ and deployed to Afghanistan.

General Brady explained he was humbled and honored to present the award to Captain Rellick.

"It is an outstanding achievement and there's no bigger or more prestigious award given to honor someone's leadership," said General Brady.

While Captain Rellick was honored to receive the award at the NATO level, it came as a shock with so many other Airmen doing great things.

"I was completely surprised when they told me I won the award," Captain Rellick said.

He noted one contributing factor for winning the award was a unique mission he was in charge of where aircraft made drops in the Kandahar, Afghanistan, area for the first time ever using a joint staff.

Also, he facilitated an airlift for six Afghan National Army graduations and orchestrated 43 missions while transporting 3,000 new soldiers.

Even on his extra time, the captain displays his leadership and dedication as the officer in charge of the base Honor Guard and also coordinated 18 of NATOs highest level events.

Captain Rellick noted he could not have won the award without his coworkers making work fun and easy for him,

"I wouldn't have been able to have won the award without the leadership of my senior leaders and mentors," said Captain Rellick. "Also, I thank the superstars that work underneath me and help make me shine."

The award was created in 1981 to recognize individuals who have demonstrated the highest qualities of leadership in their lives and in their jobs. Captain Rellick has demonstrated leadership and embodied the warrior ethos by continuing the legacy of the Lance P. Sijan Award.