Warren OSI member wins command award

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. Lisa Meiman
  • 90th Space Wing Public Affairs
F.E. Warren AFB, Wyo. --  A member of Warren's Office of Special Investigations Det. 805 won OSI's 2006 Senior Enlisted Support Person of the Year award at Andrews Air Force Base, Va., April 5. 

Master Sgt. Keith Skeldon, Warren's OSI information manager, accepted the award from Lt. Gen. Ronald Sams, Air Force inspector general, and also received a medallion during award ceremonies at Andrews. 

"If people do the best they can do every day, they'll be recognized for it," Sergeant Skeldon said. 

Nominees were judged on performance at both the regional and command level. Sergeant Skeldon was presented the regional award at Patrick AFB, Fla., before competing at the OSI command level. 

Sergeant Skeldon's duties at OSI include information management, finance, logistics and personnel. 

"Sergeant Skeldon is definitely the best of the best within the AFOSI ranks. He single-handedly keeps our detachment running day in and day out," said Special Agent Doug Garavanta, Det. 805 commander. "He was a great choice for this award." 

Sergeant Skeldon's biggest job, however, is conducting computer forensics. When a downtown agency hits on suspicious activity on a Warren Airman's personal or government computer, OSI agents typically seize the computer. Then Sergeant Skeldon analyzes the computer for possible illegal activity. 

"We have equipment that allows me to look at everything on the computer, even files that have been deleted," Sergeant Skeldon said. 

Sergeant Skeldon joined the Air Force in 1987 and joined OSI in 2002. When Sergeant Skeldon first entered the Air Force, Airmen were still using typewriters. He helped install the first computers at Warren. 

He has been stationed at Warren his entire career except for a three-year network instructor job at U.S. Air Forces in Europe. 

"OSI definitely gave me the chance to get out of my career field but still work with computers," Sergeant Skeldon said. "It's a one of a kind job." 

Sergeant Skeldon deployed twice with OSI to Iraq since 2002: once to Baghdad in 2003 and 2004 and then again to Nassyria in 2006 from where he recently returned. While many deployed information manager Airmen rarely abandon their computers, Sergeant Skeldon found himself outside the installations, working with OSI agents from around the country. 

"He was on the front lines with our agents, executing our counterintelligence mission," Agent Garavanta said. 

Counterintelligence includes finding bomb designers, owners and caches, and destroying any bombs they find. Sergeant Skeldon also performed protective service detail and source meets while deployed. 

"Once we're over there, they consider us part of the team," Sergeant Skeldon said.
Official business wasn't Sergeant Skeldon's only duty. As some of the only Airmen allowed off air bases in Iraq, he and his team often gave American food and clothing to Iraqis. 

Sergeant Skeldon said he wants to remain at Warren until he finishes his information technology degree and wants to stay with OSI after his retirement.