By Tech. Sgt. Garth Dunkel

SOUTH BURLINGTON, Vt. – U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Rachel Veronneau, the personnel superintendent assigned to the 158th Force Support Flight, 158th Mission Support Group, 158th Fighter Wing, Vermont Air National Guard, is the recipient of the 2018 Force Support Reserve Component Senior Noncommissioned Officer of the Year Award. The 158th FW command staff recommended Veronneau for endorsement from Vermont National Guard’s Adjutant General (TAG), where she was then eligible to compete amongst her peers throughout the entire Air National Guard. 

Her consideration for this award stems from Veronneau’s ability to make solid judgments and quick decisions within the realm of personnel. Additionally, she guides and supports her team, where they flawlessly executed the coordination, travel, pay, promotions, training and ultimately the solidification of the 158th’s personnel programs for the upcoming F-35 mission as the first Air National Guard unit with the recent extended active duty (EAD) program.

Veronneau’s competitive status fell under the A-1 directorate, compared her skills amongst Airmen in personnel, base services, equal opportunity and base training elements. With over 90 Air National Guard bases in total and across three career specialties that the performance-based competition for this particular award was significant. 

Regardless of her own personal merit, Veronneau’s perception of her recent award is a symbol of the collaboration and hard work of those in her charge. 

“I can’t do what I do without the (personnel) team helping. This took a team of people to accomplish what was accomplished, it wasn’t just one person doing it all. In the end, it’s the strength of the personal relationships that you make and the strength of the team that you’re working with – through it all we take care of the Airmen at the end of the day,” said Veronneau. 

Beyond her efforts as a mentor and advocate for her team, she does the same for the careers of the entire organization. From award evaluation of deserving Airmen, to guiding career panels for promotions, Veronneau and her team executed all the required actions of compliance with one-hundred percent accuracy. 

The criteria in which Veronneau was assessed included her performance in mission accomplishment, customer focus, leadership, and team building, for the entire directorate of A-1.

“All of the stuff that she has done over the last year, especially with the F-35, has been incredible. From the ground up, she did it all,” said Senior Master Sgt. Cynthia Fitzgerald, 158th Force Support Flight Superintendent. “And for the EAD group, they wouldn’t have gone (to training) without her and they wouldn’t be coming home without her.” 

Veronneau has distinguished herself by ensuring the careers of countless Airmen of the Green Mountain Boys who are the most important component of the F-35 mission and the future of the 158th Fighter Wing for years to come.