3 AFMC Airmen honored at DoD Media Awards

Staff Sgt. Elena Konter, 96th Medical Operations Squadron, salutes during the flag-folding portion of the unit’s graduation ceremony at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., March 1. Approximately 12 new Airmen graduated from the 120-plus-hour course. The graduation performance includes flag detail, rifle volley, pall bearers and bugler for friends, family and unit commanders. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Staff Sgt. Elena Konter, 96th Medical Operations Squadron, salutes during the flag-folding portion of the unit’s graduation ceremony at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., March 1. Approximately 12 new Airmen graduated from the 120-plus-hour course. The graduation performance includes flag detail, rifle volley, pall bearers and bugler for friends, family and unit commanders. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Three Air Force Materiel Command Public Affairs specialists were among the winners of the 2017 Department of Defense Media Awards. Samuel King Jr., David Perry and Airman 1st class Johnathon Wines competed and won at the Headquarters Air Force Materiel Command, Air Force and now DoD levels.

Of the nine Airmen from AFMC who competed at the DoD level, three were earned top honors in their respective categories.

King is the chief of command information at 96th Test Wing Public Affairs, Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, where he writes, edits and takes photographs.

“It’s a real honor to represent DoD in this way,” said King. “I really appreciate the opportunity the Air Force has given me to explore and hone my aptitude for this art form I love so much.”

King placed first in the Civilian Photographer of the Year category at the DoD level for his honor guard graduation submission. He also placed first in this category at Air Force level. In addition, Best Feature photo, Best Portrait photo and Civilian Photographer of the Year were added to King’s accolades at the AFMC level.

King's winning photograph entry can be viewed at https://www.dvidshub.net/image/3227184/honor-guard-graduation-march-2017.

Perry is a visual information specialist at 75th Air Base Wing Public Affairs, Hill Air Force Base, Utah, where he designs and creates a wide variety of visual products.

“I consider myself very fortunate to be part of the DoD family with a profession where we put so many smiles of gratitude for the services provided. Our two-man graphics department rivals any commercial advertising agency, and I get a kick out of creating quality, innovative designs for our projects,” said Perry.

His design of the Judge Advocate General Corps logo at Hill garnered first place in the Identity Design category at the DoD level after also placing first at both the Air Force and AFMC-level.

Perry's winning graphic logo design can be viewed at https://www.dvidshub.net/graphic/1250/jag-corps-hill-afb-ut-logo.

Wines is a broadcast journalist journeyman assigned to 88th Air Base Wing Public Affairs, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. Wines creates video productions and news stories, documents historical base events and provides public affairs products to tell the Air Force story.

He competed and earned third place in the Training Videography category for his video of a practice jump by Army Soldiers over the Wright-Patterson flight line. The video garnered a first-place win at AFMC and placed second at the Air Force-level competition.

“I’m glad I had the opportunity to shoot the Army jump story. It one of my favorite projects on which I have worked. I have been fortunate to have the chance,” said Wines.

Wines has recently been reassigned to Camp Humphreys, South Korea.

View Wines' video submission at https://www.dvidshub.net/video/575695/army-jump-wright-patterson-air-force-base.

The annual awards program is open to the Public Affairs career field. Personnel must enter through their respective service competition. The program was re-established in 2016 on the recommendation of a multi-service working group in order to combine public affairs and visual information.

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