Whiteman Spirit Award

  • Published
  • By Heidi Hunt
  • 509th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
Brig. Gen. Robert Wheeler, 509th Bomb Wing commander, presented Capt. Glen DeMars, 509th Operations Support Squadron, and Master Sgt. Britian Yocum, 509th Medical Support Squadron, with the Whiteman Spirit Award Feb. 17, 2010.

General Wheeler nominated the Airmen for the award for their work in directing the Heartland Combined Federal Campaign, which helped Whiteman set a new record of $151,780, exceeding the original goal of $111,000.

Captain DeMars and Sergeant Yocum co-chaired the campaign, which supports eligible non-profit organizations and provide health and human service benefits throughout the world.

The CFC is the world's largest annual workplace charity campaign, with more than 300 CFCs throughout the U.S. and internationally and helps raise millions of dollars each year.

"Captain DeMars and Sergeant Yocum demonstrated superior commitment to the CFC process and ensured the campaign's message was delivered, updated and maintained," General Wheeler said. "The Airmen really contributed to Whiteman's successful CFC, and I appreciate all the hard work, dedication and leadership."

Contributors made monetary pledges during the organizations campaign season, which ran Sept. 30 - Nov. 12, 2009.

- Personally Speaking -

Rank/Name: Capt. Glen DeMars
Go-by name: Glen
Duty Title: Weather Flight commander
Time on Station: 21 months
Time in Service: 18 years
Hometown: Fostoria, Ohio
Family: Nicole, spouse, and children: Maddox, Dakota, and Dempsey
Hobbies: Coaching youth sports and spending time with family
Goals: Coach high school sports
Best thing about Whiteman: "The B-2!"
Pet Peeves: "People who don't take advantage of the opportunities they are given."
What motivates your winning spirit? "My family."
If you could change one thing about Whiteman, what would it be? "Move the base to a warmer location. Those snow and ice forecasts are killing me."

Rank/Name: Master Sgt. Britian Yocum
Go-by name: Brit
Duty Title: Superintendant, Information and Resource Management Flight
Time on Station: 4 years and 6 months
Time in Service: 17 years and 10 months
Hometown: Republic, Mo.
Family: Stacey, spouse 
Hobbies: Classic cars, hunting and fishing
Goals: "To broaden my scope of experience, to keep stepping outside my comfort zone, to cultivate my Airmen to reach their maximum potential, and always have fun."
Best thing about Whiteman: "That we can house, support and project, if necessary, such a phenomenal asset as the B-2 from such a relatively peaceful and quiet location, full of hard-working and caring folks."
Pet Peeves: "Poor customer service. On or off-base, internal or external, the people you serve are the very best, and deserve the very best. Anticipate the customer's needs and then exceed them."
What motivates your winning spirit? "High personal expectations and not being afraid to fail. Fear stifles innovation, whether your fear failure or success."
If you could change one thing about Whiteman, what would it be? "I would deploy the entire Wing to Florida for about six months out of each year; I could do without the cold weather. Seriously, I'd love to expand the size of Whiteman by doubling our mission and assets."