Two 566th IS Airmen awarded Bronze Star

  • Published
  • By Senior Master Sgt. Edward Pineda
  • 566th Intelligence Squadron
Col. John Bansemer, 70th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Wing commander, awarded the Bronze Star to two 566th Intelligence Squadron Airmen Jan. 15 for meritorious service in support of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.

"I am honored to be here in the presence of these fine Airmen," Colonel Bansemer said. "Bronze Stars are, obviously, not something we give out with impunity."

As a first lieutenant, Capt. Jonathan Keyser served in Baghdad, Iraq, from November 2006 to May 2007, as National Security Agency and Central Security Service Foreign Affairs Directorate liaison officer at the United States Embassy in support of OIF. He was frequently subject to lethal direct and indirect enemy rocket, small arms and mortar fire.

According to his citation, Capt. Keyser developed and implemented a unique and effective technique to provide critical force protection and situational-awareness data to ground counter-terrorism operations. His collaborative efforts with Iraqi intelligence elements provided real-time intelligence support to coalition special tactics units, resulting in an incalculable number of Coalition and Iraqi lives saved. During his deployment, Capt. Keyser participated in 31 direct action and counter-terrorism missions, resulting in the capture or elimination of 107 high-value enemy individuals.

"Capt. Keyser is an exceptional reservist," Colonel Bansemer said during the ceremony. "We are incredibly lucky to have him on the team."

Chief Master Sgt. Douglas Meyers is currently the senior enlisted leader for the National Security Agency and Central Security Service, Colo. During his year-long tour in Southwest Asia, Chief Meyers served as the senior enlisted manager for Air Forces Central Directorate of Intelligence, traveling to bases across the Area of Responsibility in support of Air Force intelligence.

According to his citation, Chief Meyers supported more than 1,000 Airmen at 72 sites in six countries directly contributing to OEF and OIF and Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa. Chief Meyers coordinated the intelligence beddown of the MC-12W across three service components.

(Senior Airman Stephen Musal contributed to this story).