MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. -- For Master Sgt. Ryan Girard, a civil engineer Airman turned military education instructor, the thought of being named Outstanding Airmen of the Year never crossed his mind.
“I do not see myself as someone who stands out,” Girard said.
But stand out, he did. Girard, was named one of the Air Force’s 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year for 2025, joining three other senior noncommissioned officers on the list.
As the director of resources and instructor at the Mathies Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Keesler Air Force Base, La., Girard directed 18 instructors in the education of 960 students, oversaw 14 programs and executed a $310,000 budget. His selfless efforts helped earn his team seven Air and Space Achievement medals.
He also led a headquarters-level international affairs mobile training team to the Middle East, delivering a three-week mission command symposium, and drove the first ever United Arab Emirates female service member integrated course, advancing three DoD priorities and the United Nations' "Women, Peace, and Security" initiative.
Furthermore, Girard Keesler’s Top III secretary and professional development mentorship lead, is only 12 credits shy of his master’s degree and was selected to interview the nation's top 100 Air Force Junior ROTC cadets, helping to award 10 full-ride scholarships worth $2.5 million.
“To receive this kind of recognition feels unreal, because for me it has always been about doing the work, helping people and trying to make a difference in whatever space I was in,” Girard said. “I see this more as a reflection of the people and teams I have worked with than anything else.”
To identify this year’s most outstanding Airmen, NCOs and SNCOs across active duty, Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve, the Air Force enhanced their selection process to more accurately recognize the exceptional contributions of its enlisted members, placing greater emphasis on individual merit.
Nominees participated in a comprehensive three-day assessment and selection event, including an in-person board interview, supplementing the traditional record-only reviews.
“I had the chance to meet all of the other nominees during the board, and every single one of them stood out in their own way,” Girard said. “For me, I think it was the team I am lucky to be a part of at Mathies NCOA and the things we have been able to accomplish within our academy, across the Air Force and even while supporting missions on the other side of the world.”
Girard’s three-year assignment as a PME instructor is ending, as he arrived at Mathies NCOA in 2022. He will return to his primary civil engineer career field soon with an assignment at Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea, but plans to carry his PME knowledge and lessons learned back to the operational Air Force.
“Transitioning from a civil engineer background to PME was one of the toughest shifts in my Air Force career, but it ended up teaching me more than I expected,” Girard said. “One of the biggest things that made a difference was the empowerment I felt from day one. The teams at Mathies and the Barnes Center gave me the space and support to tackle challenges while staying true to who I am. Being part of the PME world has been one of the most rewarding and eye-opening experiences of my life.
The Outstanding Airmen of the Year (listed alphabetically) are:
- Senior Airman Roman Bereguta, 21st Comptroller Squadron, Peterson Space Force Base
- Senior Airman Amal Djezzar, 99th Contracting Squadron, Nellis Air Force Base
- Tech. Sgt. Jamie A. Gardner, 190th Force Support Squadron, Forbes Field Air National Guard Base
- Master Sgt. Ryan B. Girard, Mathies NCO Academy, Keesler Air Force Base
- Master Sgt. Jurgen H. Kuse, Air Reserve Personnel Center Accessions Division, Buckley Space Force Base
- Tech. Sgt. Selina Ortega, 433rd Training Squadron, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland
- Master Sgt. Aimee F. Pascas, 110th Wing, Battle Creek Air National Guard Base
- Staff Sgt. Lucas K. Shappell, 934th Civil Engineering Squadron, Minneapolis-St Paul Air Reserve Station
- Staff Sgt. Matthew Sanders, 19th Civil Engineer Squadron, Little Rock Air Force Base
- Tech. Sgt. Brandon L. Vazquez, 325th Logistics Readiness Squadron, Tyndall Air Force Base
- Master Sgt. James B. Vetter, Headquarters Air Mobility Command, Scott Air Force Base
- Senior Airman Eleanor R. Warren, 192nd Intelligence Squadron, Joint Base Langley Eustis
The winners are authorized to wear the Outstanding Airman of the Year Ribbon with the bronze service star device. They are also authorized to wear the OAY badge for one year from the date of formal presentation.