Defender receives expeditionary excellence award Published Nov. 18, 2016 By Airman 1st Class Elijaih Tiggs 319th Air Base Wing Public Affairs GRAND FORKS AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. -- Senior Airman Zachary Clapper, 319th Security Forces Squadron patrolman, received the Airman 1st Class Elizabeth N. Jacobson Award for Expeditionary Excellence Nov. 14, here. The annual security forces award formally recognizes the outstanding accomplishments and war fighting contributions of the Air Force’s youngest warriors. The award is named after Jacobson who was the first Security Forces Airman killed in the line of duty in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. “It’s an honor to receive the award, and it means a lot to our career field because of where the award comes from,” said Clapper. Staff Sgt. Joanna Salmon, 319th SFS base defense operation center controller, is one of Clapper’s supervisors, and Clapper credits her for the opportunity to be recognized for the award. “It is very important he won,” said Salmon. “It shows from the biggest base to the smallest base, we have ready and resilient Airmen.” Clapper said he has been stationed here for five years and this is his first award. “I’m glad the hard work I did showed and paid off,” said Clapper. “Honoring Jacobson means even more to me than the recognition itself.”