MSgt. Delorean M. Sheridan, a combat control craftsman? with the 21st Special Tactics Squadron at Pope Field, N.C., is one of the Air Force’s 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year for 2014. Sheridan served as the lone air commando with Army Special Forces during 177 days of combat in Afghanistan, including 43 high-risk missions and 18 firefights. He received the Silver Star for actions in an ambush by an Afghan police officer and insurgents, during which he exposed himself to heavy machine-gun fire to drag wounded service members to safety. Sheridan was handpicked to stand up an airfield recon team with a global focus. He led a search team to recover downed, sensitive technology with zero compromise to national security. Despite being deployed for more than half the year, he earned his second Community College of the Air Force degree and completed 12 semester hours toward a bachelor’s degree. He was awarded a second Bronze Star Medal for heroism in combat during his sixth deployment to Afghanistan. Air Force Magazine is shining the spotlight on each OAY in the days leading up to AFA’s Air & Space Conference that starts on Sept. 15 in National Harbor, Md. AFA will honor these airmen there. Also featured to date:
SrA. Aaron T. Feliciano SrA. Shabree N. Heasell
SSgt. David W. Wallace III TSgt. Latoria R. Ellis