Airman receives special field recognition

Cannon Connections photo: Liliana Castillo Cannon Air Force Base Master Sgt. John Allen of the 3rd Special Operations Squadron was chosen as one of five remotely piloted aircraft sensor operators to receive the 2010 Team of the Year Award.

Each year, Air Force Association officials recognize a specific enlisted career field as well as airmen from across the Air Force in that specialty who demonstrate professionalism, technical expertise and leadership.

Cannon Air Force Base Master Sgt. John Allen of the 3rd Special Operations Squadron was chosen as one of five remotely piloted aircraft sensor operators to receive the 2010 Team of the Year Award.

“The Air Force does a good job of recognizing its people,” Allen said. “They are the greatest resource.”

Allen said he is honored to represent the RPA sensor operators’ career field.

“It’s a tremendous responsibility to represent the young men and women that make up this career field and what they do,” the 38-year-old said. “If I could put all their names out there, I would.”

Allen was recently promoted to superintendent of operations in his squadron, a position that is normally held by a chief master sergeant.

As a master sergeant, Allen said he enjoys working with people and positively influencing younger airmen.

Allen joined the Air Force in 1992. He said he always wanted to join the Air Force. After a year of college, he joined the Air Force and began working in maintenance.

“I didn’t like it. I saw the flyers and wanted to do that. I volunteered and it’s what I’ve been doing for the last 15 years,” Allen said.

Allen said he enjoys the difference between flying manned and unmanned airplanes.

“It’s definitely different. It’s interesting being on the leading edge of where the Air Force and other services are going in intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance,” he said.

Allen is married with five children and is working towards his master’s degree in education.