NICEVILLE, Fla. — The Rotary Club of Niceville-Valparaiso recently recognized some of the outstanding police officers, firefighters, and emergency medical technicians for their service to our community during 2020.
Each of the award recipients truly live the Rotary motto of Service Above Self, the Club said in a news release. It went on to thank “our everyday heroes” for keeping our community safe and secure.
“We are proud of the accomplishments of these first responders, and we are grateful for their efforts to make the Twin Cities area a safer place to live,” the Club said.
The 2020 award recipients are:
- Valparaiso Police Department Officer of the Year, Officer Jeremy Craghead;
- Valparaiso Fire Department Firefighter of the Year, Lieutenant Timothy “Alex” Winkler;
- Niceville Police Department Officer of the Year, Corporal Kristin Pond;
- Niceville Fire Department Firefighter of the Year, Battalion Chief Matthew Webster;
- East Niceville Fire District Firefighter of the Year, Engineer Austin Hinton;
- North Bay Fire District Firefighter of the Year, Firefighter Tyler Gagner;
- Eglin Air Force Base (AFB) Security Forces Category I Civilian of the Year, Officer Tony Hendrix;
- Eglin AFB Security Forces Category II Civilian of the Year, Mr. Fred Staub;
- Eglin AFB Security Forces Airman of the Year, Senior Airman Kyra Wheeler;
- Eglin AFB Security Forces Noncommissioned Officer of the Year, Technical Sergeant Barton Gonzales;
- Eglin AFB Security Forces Senior Noncommissioned Officer of the Year, Master Sergeant Floyd Ford;
- Eglin AFB Security Forces Company Grade Officer of the Year, Captain Helen Ensley;
- Eglin AFB Military Firefighter of the Year, Staff Sergeant Austin Schubert;
- Eglin AFB Fire Department Civilian Firefighter of the Year, Mr. Nathan Shalduha;
- Eglin AFB Fire Department Military Fire Officer of the Year, Master Sergeant Stephen Sanabria;
- Eglin AFB Fire Department Civilian Fire Officer of the Year, Mr. Jimmy Reed;
- Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office Deputy of the Year, Deputy Brandon Mundt;
- Okaloosa County Emergency Medical Services Person of the Year, Emergency Medical Technician Cody Davis.
