RICHMOND, Va. – The Virginia National Guard Association, Inc. has opened the nomination period for performance and service awards. The association’s awards are given to high-performing individuals who reflect the extraordinary leadership during 2023.
Three awards seek to recognize outstanding company-grade Officers and Warrant Officers and are honorifically named for former members of the Virginia National Guard that served in an extraordinary manner. The association’s three performance awards are:
- Chief Warrant Officer 3 Antoinette M. Kunka Award (“Warrant Officer of the Year”): This award was created in memory of Chief Warrant Officer 3 Antoinette M. Kunka, a Virginia National Guard warrant officer who served as a Supply Systems Warrant Officer for the Directorate of Logistics. This award recognizes the achievements and dedicated service of Virginia Army and Air National Guard junior warrant officers who have demonstrated outstanding leadership and professionalism in their services to the Commonwealth of Virginia and community.
- Brig. Gen. Bert W. Holmes Award (“Army Officer of the Year”): This award was created in memory of Brig. Gen. Bert W. Holmes, Jr., a Virginia National Guard officer that served in the U.S. Army, U.S. Army Reserve and the Virginia National Guard; owned and operated a small medical practice while serving as a surgical expert at a number of hospitals and achieving the rank of Brigadier General in the Virginia National Guard. This award recognizes the achievements and dedicated service of Virginia Army National Guard junior officers in the ranks of 2nd Lieutenant, 1st Lieutenant and Captain who have demonstrated outstanding leadership and professionalism in their service to the Commonwealth of Virginia and community.
- Brig. Gen. William E. Haymes Award (“Air Officer of the Year”): This award was created in memory of Brig. Gen. William E. Haymes. Haymes began his career in Company F, 2nd Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment, and was called into Federal service in 1941 where he transferred into the U.S Army Air Corps. Earning his pilot’s wings, Haymes flew combat missions in the P-39 and P-40 fighters throughout the Pacific Theater, being credited with at least one air-to-air victory. He later flew the P-51 during the Korean War from 1952 to 1953 earning a Gold Star from the South Korean Air Force. Haymes returned to Virginia in 1953 and served as the commander of the recently reorganized Virginia Air National Guard. While serving as a rated command pilot, Haymes flew the P-47, B-26 and F-84 aircraft. Haymes was selected as the first Assistant Adjutant General – Air and was the first General Officer of the Virginia Air National Guard. Haymes retired in 1981 after more than 40 years of military service and more than 7,500 hours of flying time. The Brig. Gen. William E. Haymes Award recognizes the achievements and dedicated service of Virginia Air National Guard junior officers who have demonstrated outstanding leadership and professionalism in their services to the Commonwealth of Virginia and community.
Additional awards recognize local officials, civic leaders and elected representatives for outstanding and exceptional service to the Virginia National Guard or to the Virginia National Guard Association.
All Officers and Warrant Officers serving in the Virginia National Guard, regardless of component, are eligible to be nominated for superior performance, acts of heroism or service of a meritorious nature, make a contribution to the goals of the VNGA to the purpose and effectiveness of the Virginia National Guard or to the stability and security of the Commonwealth of Virginia or the United States. The period of consideration is January 1, 2023 through December 31, 2023.
The deadline for nominations for all 2023 VNGA Individual Awards is January 31, 2024. Individuals and commands are notified of selection and awardees are honored during the VNGA annual business meeting and conference held Feb. 24, 2024, at the DoubleTree by Hilton in Richmond, Virginia.
To nominate online, please click here to begin the nomination process. Please ensure to review the current version of the VNGA Awards Program, which can be downloaded here or viewed online here. Particular attention should be paid to the criteria for each award and the presentation of factual reasons why the individual deserves the award.
Nomination forms may also be downloaded here and electronically submitted the Awards Committee Chair at awards@vnga.us.