A Bronze Star was recently presented to a master sergeant at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base for meritorious service in a combat zone.
Air Force Master Sgt. Timothy L. Heggedahl led 42 missions in Iraq outside of coalition-controlled areas, traveling more than 250 miles on roads threatened by confirmed improvised explosive devices, conducting 66 engagements with a dozen Iraqi Air Force units and 24 Iraqi officers, according to a base description of the award citation.
The intelligence analyst is also credited with identifying gaps in Iraqi intelligence, the base said in an account of the award ceremony last week.
During an enemy rocket attack, Heggedahl coordinated the extraction of two air traffic control liaison officers, the citation states.
“I’m very impressed that, at his level, he was doing the things he was – especially to the level he was doing them,” said Brig. Gen. James Dienst, commander of the Air Force Research Laboratory’s 711th Human Performance Wing. “His actions down-range really demonstrated the kind of leadership and the initiative that truly save lives – the right kind of leadership at the right place, building stronger partnerships with our coalition forces and strengthening the overall United States Air Force and military mission in those ZIP codes.”
The Bronze Star is not his only major award, according to Wright-Patterson. Heggedahl also has the Air Force Commendation Medal with Five Oak Leaf Clusters and the Air Force Achievement Medal with Three Oak Leaf Clusters.
Heggedahl serves as Air Combat Command’s manager for All-Source Intelligence Analysis Training Modernization, and his next assignment is the National Air and Space Intelligence Center (NASIC) at Wright-Patterson, the base said.
A Wright-Patterson spokesman said Heggedahl was not available for an interview.
Paul Bryan II, deputy chief of Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Training Modernization, ACC/A2, has worked with Heggedahl for more than two years.
“Tim is the most humble, unassuming guy,” Bryan told the base. “He is an amazing craftsman at what he does. He is incredibly gifted.”
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