AFOTEC major earns Bronze Star for actions in Iraq

  • Published
  • By Katherine C. Gandara
  • Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center Chief of Public Affairs
Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M. --  An Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center officer received the Bronze Star for exceptionally meritorious achievement during a 12-month deployment to Baghdad, Iraq.

Maj. Hamilton L. Dorsey received the fourth-highest combat award for the U.S. armed forces from Maj. Gen. Stephen T. Sargeant, the AFOTEC Commander, during a Feb. 5 commander's call ceremony at AFOTEC's headquarters at Kirtland.

Major Dorsey received the award for exceptionally meritorious achievement as a foreign military sales case officer and security assistance acquisition program manager and advisor with the Multi-National Security Transition Command. The major spear headed Iraqi force generation and sustainment efforts for 61 foreign military sales programs valued at more than $5 billion.

According to the citation, his hard work and due diligence resulted in a $984 million foreign military sales case for the C-130J heavy lift transport aircraft, ensuring future delivery of six state of the art aircraft with sustainment for the Iraqi air force.

"Being deployed to Iraq and assigned to an Army unit was demanding," said Major Dorsey. "Earning a Bronze Star medal is the biggest feeling of accomplishment in my Air Force career."

The Bronze Star is awarded to personnel in any branch of the military service who distinguished themselves by heroic or meritorious achievement or service, not involving participation in aerial flight, in connection with military operations against an armed enemy.

AFOTEC is a direct reporting unit under Headquarters, United States Air Force. It is the Air Force independent test agency responsible for testing, under operationally realistic conditions, new systems being developed for Air Force and multi-service use.