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Andersen firefighter wins Air-Force level award

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Carissa Morgan
  • 36th Wing Public Affairs
An Andersen firefighter was recently named the Air Force's best civilian firefighter.
William O'Meara was named the 2007 Air Force Civilian Firefighter of the Year. 

Throughout the year, O'Meara had many accomplishments that led to this award, said Andersen Fire Chief John Thompson. But the most high-profile act was when he responded to a 5-year-old who had a gunshot wound to her foot. 

O'Meara's quick actions and experience were credited with saving her foot.
However, O'Meara's day-to-day work ethic also help set him apart. 

"He leads and is also a go to firefighter," said Ronald Grajeda, a fellow Andersen firefighter. "His hard work and dedication are unrivaled; his knowledge base of our job makes our department better every day he shows up. 

"He never does what he does for recognition, but because that's the way he is," Grajeda explained. "Earning something with blood, sweat and tears means you deserve it."
Grajeda also said his unit would not have had the sucess it did during the unit compliance inspection if it didn't have O'Meara. 

"Everything he touches is second to none," he added. 

During last year, O'Meara responded to more than 2,000 emergencies, said Chief Thompson. 

Being recognized for his outstanding work isn't new to O'Meara. In fact, this is his second Air Force-level award he's received in less than a year. In December, he was named the Air Force's Outstanding Civil Engineer Civilian Technician of the Year.
O'Meara was named Pacific Air Force's Civilian Firefighter of the Year in April. 

Now, according to Thompson, he'll compete against the rest of the Department of Defense services in August at the annual DoD Fire and Emergency Services conference.