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Staff Sgt. Adam Donahue will be presented with the Sherif's Civilian Achievement Award from El Paso County Sheriff's Office Jan. 25. (Courtesy Photo/El Paso County Sheriff's Office)
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50 SFS member earns Sheriff's Civilian Achievement Award
Posted 1/23/2013 Updated 1/23/2013
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by Staff Sgt. Robert Cloys
50th Space Wing Public Affairs
1/23/2013 - SCHRIEVER AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- During the El Paso County Sheriff's Office Annual Award Banquet Jan. 25, Staff Sgt. Adam Donahue will be presented with the Sheriff's Civilian Achievement Award for his actions Nov. 21, 2011.
The banquet honors El Paso County Sheriff employees and citizens who make a difference in the local community as well as those who achieve significant accomplishments during the year.
"During the ceremony, the El Paso County Sheriff's Office recognizes staff and civilians whose performance or actions are deserving of recognition," said Sgt. Joe Roybal, public information officer at the El Paso Country Sheriff's office. "Once each quarter, the awards committee gathers and discuses nominations received. The committee votes on each nomination individually and determines if the actions of the nominee merit the award. The awards approved throughout the year are recognized during the awards banquet."
The actions that led to Donahue's nomination began Nov. 21, 2011, when a dispatcher from the El Paso County Sheriff's Office was contacted to respond to an incident involving a 50th Security Forces Squadron Airman 1st Class from Schriever Air Force Base who had barricaded himself inside the deployment processing building.
When the Crisis Negotiations Unit arrived at the scene, they found negotiations had already begun between the Airman and Donahue.
According to the citation, "Donahue was doing a very good job despite not having any formal negotiations training. Donahue did an excellent job keeping the subject talking and safe, while [the negotiation unit] coached him."
Although he had no obligation to remain on scene and continue assisting the negotiators, Donahue remained until late into the evening following the situations peaceful resolution.
"Had it not been for his sincere empathy and the rapport he had built with the Airman, it would have been much more difficult to bring the situation to a positive and safe conclusion," according to the citation. "For his extraordinary heroism and selflessness, Senior Airman Adam Donahue is awarded the Sheriff's Civilian Achievement Award."
Donahue, however, is humbled by the experience.
"To be completely honest, I don't believe my actions merit an award," he said. "I did what the U.S. Air Force pays me to do, protect personnel and resources. It was a lousy situation that ended with the best possible outcome. It was a privilege to work with all the joint agencies that came to support us that day. The FBI and El Paso county personnel were the definition of true professionals [throughout the scenario]."
Although Donahue credits much of the peaceful resolution to others, leadership gives him the credit they believe he deserves.
"The peaceful resolution to the armed standoff would not have been possible without then-Senior Airman Donahue," said Lt. Col. Jasin Cooley, 50 SFS commander. "He exemplified 'service before self' by placing himself in a dynamic, dangerous environment, earnestly concerned for the well-being of both the suspect and the responders. It was truly humbling to watch him in action."
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