Kirtland officer receives aviation award

  • Published
  • By 377th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. --  Capt. Thad Ronnau, an HH-60G helicopter instructor pilot in the 58th Special Operations Wing, received the Cheney Award in a ceremony at 9 a.m. Dec. 9 at Kirtland Air Force Base.

The Cheney Award is an aviation award presented by the U.S. Air Force in memory of 1st Lt. William Cheney, who was killed in an air collision over Italy in 1918. It was established in 1927, and is awarded to an Airman for an act of valor, extreme fortitude or self-sacrifice in a humanitarian interest, performed in connection with aircraft.

"I am honored to have been selected for the award, but there were 12 other people on that mission," Ronnau said. "It was a total team effort."

According to the award citation, Ronnau distinguished himself in 2012 while participating as a pilot of an HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan. He risked difficult weather conditions to recover a critically wounded U.S. Soldier. Due to low visibility, Ronnau was forced to fly within 150 feet of the ground to maintain visual contact.

After recovering the Soldier, en route back to the airfield, his aircraft came under enemy ground fire. He performed evasive maneuvers and navigated his two-aircraft formation through poor weather to the nearest medical facility.

"The professional skill and airmanship displayed by Captain Ronnau reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force," said his award citation, signed by Chief of Staff of the Air Force Gen. Mark A. Welsh III.