Dvids:
The top missile defense service members on the Korean Peninsula were recognized by the founder and chairman of the Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance at the Dragon Hill Lodge during the Korean Peninsula Missile Defender of the Year banquet hosted by 35th Air Defense Artillery Brigade in Seoul, Republic of Korea Nov 18.
Riki Ellison, three-time Super Bowl champion and founder and chairman of MDAA sponsored the event for the fifth year in a row, a platform he’s supported since his college football days at the University of Southern California.
Each recipient was either selected by their service for their contributions to missile defense in the Korean theater of operation, or won a rigorous competition against their peers.
“When you get in that high performance arena, you get put in a competitive cauldron, and competitive cauldrons force greatness,” said Ellison.
Each service member was recognized with a spoil of accolades that included a signed football and jersey, courtesy of Ellison and MDAA.
Three of the Army’s top six crews were assigned to 2nd Battalion, 1st ADA Regiment. The top engagement station crew went to 1st Lt. Nathanael Agront, Sgt. Robert Dingle and Pfc. Christopher Kline. Sgt. Eric Areizaga and Pfc. Peter Cwalina took home best launcher crew, while Sgt. Austin Eddings and Pfc. Jameson Medellin won best systems maintenance crew.
