2000 Superior Achievement Award

Presented to: Major Geoffrey A. Laing

Citation: For his significant contributions and use of superior skills as a navigator in planning and executing the high risk, short notice airdrop of lifesaving medical supplies to a South Pole cancer patient that captured the world’s attention.

Major Geoffrey A. Laing earned a bachelor of science degree in computer science from Valparaiso University in 1987. Prior to joining the Air Force, he worked for Sundstrand Aviation on the C-17 constant speed drive. He was commissioned through officer training school in March of 1989 and reported to Mather AFB, Calif., for undergraduate navigator training. Upon graduating, he attended B-52G initial qualification training where he earned distinguished graduate honors. He was then assigned to Wurtsmith AFB, Mich., where he flew in B-52G’s for the 524th Bomb Squadron. In 1992, Maj. Lang cross-trained into the C-141B and graduated number one from the C-141B initial qualification course after which he was assigned to McChord AFB, Washington. There he was assigned to the 36th Airlift Squadron, then the 62nd Operations Support Squadron and finally to the 4th Airlift Squadron as C-141B evaluator and instructor navigator. In 1999, he was assigned to the 57th Airlift Squadron at Altus, Okla., as C-141B combat crew training instructor and evaluator navigator and flight commander, support flight and squadron executive officer. In April 2001, he was assigned to the Air Force Personnel Center, Randolph AFB, Texas.

Maj. Laing graduated in the top fifteen percent of his class from specialized undergraduate navigator training. He has received numous achievement awards, including commendations as the 7th Airlift Squadron Instructor Navigator of the Year, the 4th Airlift Squadron Company Grade Officer of the Year 1999, and 62nd Airlift Wing Navigator of the Year Award 1999. Maj. Laing also has the distinction of being picked as the General Robert ‘Dutch’ Huyser Award Winner for 1999 - an honor that goes to the top crewmember in the Air Force’s Air Mobility Command.