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News | May 15, 2012

Top Cold Steel Challengers recognized at ceremony

U.S. Strategic Command Public Affairs

OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. - Since January, Offutt personnel and family members have been pumping iron, ripping muscle, running, sweating, losing weight and eating healthy for the Cold Steel Challenge. Now the top challengers have officially been recognized.

The Annual Cold Steel Challenge awards ceremony was recently held at the Patriot Club to pay tribute to the top finishers who accumulated the most MET points during the January 31 through April 25 challenge. Maj. Gen. William Grimsley, Chief of Staff, U.S. Strategic Command, presented the awards and congratulated the winners.


This year's top challengers are:

  • Overall 1st Place: Chief Petty Officer Walter Key, Intelligence, USSTRATCOM
  • Overall 2nd Place: Maj. Robert Martin, Intelligence, USSTRATCOM
  • Overall 3rd Place: Maj. Ryan Wippler, 55th Medical Support Squadron
  • Army Top Male: Lt. Col. Timothy Stiansen, Joint Force Sustainment, USSTRATCOM
  • Army Top Female: 1st Lt. Lauren Rucker, Intelligence, USSTRATCOM
  • Marine Top Male: Maj. Don White, Global Operations, USSTRATCOM
  • Marine Top Female: Capt. Rosella Iaccino, CWMD and Missile Defense Division, USSTRATCOM
  • Navy Top Male: Chief Petty Officer Walter Key
  • Navy Top Female: Lt. Cmdr. Stephanie Murdock, Public Affairs, USSTRATCOM
  • Air Force Top Male: Maj. Robert Martin
  • Air Force Top Female: Capt. Liane Zivitski, 97th Intelligence Squadron
  • Civilian Top Male: Kenneth Sitler, PMO, USSTRATCOM
  • Civilian Top Female: Babette Tuckerman, PMO, USSTRATCOM
  • Family Member Top Male: Scott Jones
  • Family Member Top Female: Nicki Sitler
  • Top Service Element: Marine Corps

Top teams:

  • Overall Small Team 2-4 Members: Island of Misfit Toys - Staff Sgt. Octavio Bustos, Airman 1st Class Andrew Bull, Tech. Sgt. Adrienne Wilson, and team captain Maj. Ryan Wippler
  • Overall Small Team 5-9 Members: Red Dragoons - Maj. Robert Martin, Capt. Liane Zivitski, Chief Petty Officer Walter Key, Tech. Sgt. Catherine Bouchard, and team captain Tech. Sgt. Robert Bouchard
  • Overall Medium Team 10-19 Members: J7 - Mr. Pat McVay, CAPT Jeff Austin, Lt. Col. Jerome White, Maj. Time Watkins, Maj. Jerry Beaver, Staff Sgt. TaRess Daniels, Tim Kemper, Randy Lay, Mike Precella, Denise Murray, Chris Real, Phil Hacker, T.J. Hammond, Derek Bowen, Brian Walterich, Dan Stanley, Col. Jeff Ruchie, and team captain Mike Wenzl
  • Overall Large Team 20+ Members: J9 - Mr. Jerry Gandy, Lane Bittick, Master Sgt. James Rose, Jamie Rose, Lizette Snyder, David Talburt, Col. Gentry Boswell, Jeffrey Ferguson, Michael Artese, Matthew Bradley, Blaine Fulton, Esin Ozcandarli, Col. Eric Van Sky, Dorothy Hoskinson, Col. George Carpenter, Maj. Jeffrey Finch, Andre Hennig, John Hudson, William Astley, Douglas Chaney, team captain Maj. Adam Fain, Kimberly Cullum, and Patti Davis