2002 Superior Achievement Award

Presented to: Major James W. DeLoach

Citation: For his innovation, dedication and hard work to ensure the safe mission execution of the world’s most sophisticated Hercules, the MC-130H Combat Talon II.

Major James W. DeLoach is an evaluator navigator and deputy flight commander of standardization and evaluation assigned to the Seventh Special Operations Squadron, 352nd Special Operations Group, Royal Air Force Mildenhall, U.K. Deloch graduated in engineering in 1992 from the University of Tennessee on an Air Force ROTC scholarship. After graduating, he worked briefly for Martin Marietta Energy Systems. He was called to active duty in 1992 and was soon selected for specialized undergraduate navigator training. After graduating in July 1993, he was assigned to various challenging duties and was eventually selected to attend Squadron Officers School at Maxwell AFB, Alabama, where he earned chief of staff flight honors.

As an instructor navigator with the Seventh Special Operations Squadron, DeLoach developed computerized techniques for constructing all-weather self-contained approaches, which were soon made the standard for AFSOC. As an evaluator navigator, the Special Operations Mission Planning Office identified DeLoach as a subject matter expert and chose him as beta-tester for the whole range of computer-based mission planning applications.

Major Deloach's military awards include the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal, Aerial Achievement Medal; Air Force Commendation Medal; Joint Meritorious Unit Award; Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Valor, Combat Readiness Medal, and Humanitarian Service Medal.

As of this writing, he is deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.