Maryland PAO Award Winners
Maryland Wing has a long history of outstanding public affairs officers, including several who have gone on to become the Middle East Region PAO of the Year and earn Balsem Awards.
Maryland Wing PAO of the Year (for unit PAOs)
2021 - Maj David Trick - Maryland Wing Headquarters
2020 - No award issued due to COVID-19 significant impact to the Maryland Wing Public Affairs program
2019 - 2nd Lt. Michelle Travers - Harford
2018 - 1st Lt. Mary Ann Alvarado - Mt. Airy
2017 - Capt. Alice Raatjes - Group 2
2016 - Capt. Dennis Chappell - Charles
2015 - Lt. Col. Sally Ludwig - Feik
2014 - 1st Lt. Alice Raatjes - Carroll
2013 - Lt. Col. Christopher Roche - Glenn L. Martin
2012 - TSgt Ira Kest - Frederick
2011 - Capt. Jacob Gerstein - Howard
2010 - Maj. George "Buddy" Murray, Jr. - Wicomico
2009 - 1st Lt. Stacey Bowen - Mount Airy
2008 - 1st Lt. Julie Holley - Bowie
2007 - 2nd Lt. Julie Holley - Bowie
2006 - 1st Lt. Goff "Clark" Cochran - Glenn L. Martin
2005 - 1st Lt. Brenda Reed - Carroll
2004 - 1st Lt. Philip Szczepanski - Harford
2003 - 2nd Lt. Steven Solomon - MDWG
2002 - 1st Lt. Doug Barth - Fort McHenry
2000 - Maj. Robert W. Turner - College Park
Middle East Region PAO of the Year (Unit PAO or Wing PAO)
2018 - Capt. Alice Raatjes - MER PAO of the Year
2010 - Maj. George "Buddy" Murray, Jr. - MER Unit PAO of the Year
2009 - Capt. Brenda Reed - MER Wing PAO of the Year
2003 - 2nd Lt. Steven Solomon - MER Wing PAO of the Year
2000 - Capt. Kay Joslin Walling - MER Wing PAO of the Year
National CAP Balsem Awards for PAO Excellence
2020 - 1st Lt. Elizabeth Linares (Mount Airy Composite) - Certificate of Merit (social media: Final Salute (Facebook))
2020 - 1st Lt. Olivia Higgins (Harford Composite) - Certificate of Merit (photography: Teamwork - Maryland Warrior Challenge)
2019 - Maj. Victor S. Santos (Bethesda-Chevy Chase) - Balsem Award (brochure/poster/flyer: Bethesda-Chevy Chase Squadron Open House Flyer)
2019 - Cadet Col. Harrison Kervitsky (College Park Composite) - Certificate of Merit (photography: National Blue Beret)
2018 - 1st Lt. Mary Ann Alvarado (Mt. Airy) - Balsem Award (brochure/poster/flyer: Squadron cards)
2018 - Capt. Alice Raatjes (MDWG) - Award of Excellence (slide show: World of Public Affairs)
2018 - Lt. Col. Brenda Reed (MDWG) - Certificate of Merit (social media: MDWG Cadet Programs 75th anniversary)
2017 - Maj. Julie Holley (MER/MDWG) - Honorable Mention Best in Show (Maryland Wing response to Hurricane Matthew)
2017 - Lt. Col. Christopher Roche (Glenn L. Martin) - Certificate of Merit (Website: Glenn L. Martin Composite Squadron Website)
2016 - Lt. Col. Christopher Roche (MDWG) - Balsem Award (external media coverage: South Carolina Flood Mission/2015 Tri-Wing Encampment)
2016 - Capt. Alice Raatjes (Group 2) - Award of Excellence (external media coverage: Women's History Month)
2016 - Capt. Alice Raatjes (Group 2) - Award of Excellence (external media coverage "Women and CAP: 75 years of history")
2016 - Maj. Brenda Reed (MER/MDWG) - Balsem Award (Photographer: South Carolina Floods)
2016 - Maj. Brenda Reed (MER/MDWG) - Balsem Award (Social Media: "Happy 74th Birthday, CAP")
2016 - Lt. Col. Christopher Roche (MDWG) - Award of Excellence (social media "Maryland Wing conference and Tri-Wing Encampment Facebook pages"
2016 - Maj. Brenda Reed (MER/MDWG) - Balsem Award (Website: MER PAO blog)
2015 - Capt. Alice Raatjes (Carroll) - Balsem Award (Open House brochure)
2015 - Lt. Col. Christopher Roche (MDWG) - Award of Excellence (2014 Tri-Wing Encampment external media)
2015 - Capt. Alice Raatjes (Carroll) - Certificate of Merit (Power Point: 2014 Conference)
2015 - Capt. Alice Raatjes (Carroll) - Award of Excellence (Carroll squadron Facebook)
2015 - Capt. Alice Raatjes (Carroll) - Certificate of Merit (Group II website)
2014 - Maj. Brenda Reed (MDWG) - Balsem Award (Maryland Wing Memories - Facebook)
2014 - Lt. Col. Christopher Roche (Glenn L Martin) - Balsem Award (Squadron Facebook and Twitter sites)
2014 - Lt. Col. Christopher Roche (Glenn L Martin) - Certificate of Merit (Squadron Website)
2014 - Lt. Col. Christopher Roche (Glenn L Martin) - Award of Excellence (Photography - 2013 Legislative Day and Cyber Patriot V Awards Banquet)
2013 - Col. Kathryn Joslin Walling (MDWG) - Balsem Award (Brochure/Poster/Flyer)
2013 - Col. Kathryn Joslin Walling (MDWG) - Balsem Award (Slide/PowerPoint Presentation)
2013 - 1st Lt. Carlos M. Montegue (Charles) - Balsem Award (Website)
2013 - Lt. Col. Joseph R. Winter (MDWG) - Balsem Award (External Media Coverage)
2010 - Capt. Julie Holley (Bowie) - Honorable Mention - (Writing for the Media)
2010 - Capt. Julie Holley (Bowie) - Award of Excellence - (Event Promotion/Crisis Management)
2010 - Maj. Brenda Reed (MDWG) - Balsem Award (Website)
2010 - Maj. Brenda Reed (MDWG) - Balsem Award (Photography)
2007 - Capt. Steven Solomon (MDWG) - Balsem Award - "Best in Show" (radio/media program)
