Alpena Michigan Air National Guardsman selected for ANG Security Forces SRNCO of the Year Award Published June 24, 2014 By Master Sgt. Denice Rankin Public Affairs Thursday, May 5, 2014 -- LANSING, Mich. - Michigan Air National Guard Master Sgt. Robert Mills, a native of Alpena, has been selected by the National Guard Bureau as the Air National Guard Security Forces Flight-level Senior Non-commissioned Officer of the Year. Mills is assigned to the Alpena, Combat Readiness Training Center as the superintendent of security forces. The ANG Security Force senior NCO award recognizes enlisted security force members in the rank of master sergeant and senior master sergeant who demonstrate leadership and job performance that sets them apart from their peers nationwide. Mills was first selected as the CRTC Senior NCO of the Year and then competed statewide and was selected as the Michigan Air National Guard awardee. This earned him the ability to compete and then win at the Air National Guard level. Mills is a veteran of numerous campaigns to include Desert Storm /Cease Fire Campaign and Operation Desert Focus in 1996-1997, Operation Joint Guard in 1998, and Operation Noble Eagle from November 2001 to August 2002. During his 22 years of military service he has attended a variety of law enforcement, terrorism, and leadership courses and has earned many military awards to include the Meritorious Service Medal, the Air Force Commendation Medal, Air Force Achievement Medal, Navy Achievement Medal, and the NATO Medal. Mills has two associate' s degree in Criminal Justice from Alpena Community College and from the Community College of the Air Force and a bachelor's degree in Social and Criminal Justice. He is currently pursuing a master's degree in Police Administration. Mills and his wife Robbi have two children, Madelyn and Cole. His parents, Alan and Kathie Mills, are Alpena reside