A 
response force leader with the 721st Security Forces Squadron at Cheyenne Mountain AFS, Colo., SrA. Nicholas A. Hurt is one of the Air Force’s 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year for 2012. As part of a quick reaction team at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, Hurt disrupted an insurgent supply point by discovering a weapons cache and destroying 200 pounds of explosives. He also responded to 14 indirect fire attacks, clearing mission-critical zones without taking casualties or losing assets. He was the designated radio telephone operator for 38 outside-the-wire missions, gathering key intelligence and strengthening the coalition bond with host nationals. He was also the only airman first class to lead three 13-personnel squads for outside-the-wire presence/reconnaissance patrols. He responded to a severe head trauma injury, applying combat lifesaver skills to stabilize the victim, and provided emergency medical help to an ill Afghan child. Hurt’s home of record is Chino Valley, Ariz.
In written testimony to the Senate, the nominee to oversee the Air Force’s installations and energy enterprise endorsed the continued privatization of military housing and called for the department to think more during the acquisition process about how it will power new weapons systems when the logistics supply chain is…
