{"id":1190,"date":"2026-05-20T13:03:58","date_gmt":"2026-05-20T13:03:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/denvermovingchronicle.com\/?p=1190"},"modified":"2026-05-20T13:03:58","modified_gmt":"2026-05-20T13:03:58","slug":"military-rank-and-file-local-advocates-recognized-at-50th-aurora-chamber-event","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/denvermovingchronicle.com\/?p=1190","title":{"rendered":"Military rank-and-file, local advocates recognized at 50th Aurora Chamber event"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

AURORA<\/strong> | The Aurora Chamber of Commerce honored military service members and civilian advocates during its 50th Armed Forces Recognition Luncheon last week, celebrating leadership, volunteerism and community service across multiple military branches.<\/p>\n

Held at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel in Denver this year, the annual event brought together military commanders, elected officials and business leaders to recognize enlisted personnel and community members who have strengthened ties between the military and the Aurora area.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor half a century, this event has been a reflection of who we are as a community,\u201d Chamber Executive Director Naomi Colwell told attendees. \u201cFifty years ago, the Aurora Chamber of Commerce made a commitment that the men and women who serve at our local military installations would know, without question, that their community stands with them.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Armed Forces Recognition Award is presented to enlisted service members ranked E-6 and below who demonstrate professional excellence, leadership and community involvement.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

Also honored this year was retired Air Force Col. George Peck, a veteran himself of the local military and Chamber of Commerce communities.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor 50 years, this luncheon has honored the men and women who serve in our armed forces,\u201d said Master of Ceremonies Rick Crandall. \u201cAnd for about half of those years, one man has stood on this stage and delivered a live tribute that has become the heartbeat of this event.\u201d<\/p>\n

He referred to and honored Peck for his years of support and tribute to the event and its recipients.<\/p>\n

\u201cEach finalist today has been nominated by their unit leadership and reviewed by a panel of seasoned professionals,\u201d Crandall said. \u201cTheir recognition is not just a testament to their service, but to their character and impact well beyond the base.\u201d<\/p>\n

Buckley Space Force Base is home to all branches of the military, and each branch offers their own honorees.<\/p>\n

Among the honorees was Army Spc. Jack Dunn of the 743rd Military Intelligence Battalion, who received the Army award after being nominated by unit leadership and selected by a review panel.<\/p>\n

The Marine Corps category ended in a tie, with Staff Sgt. Aric Hanner of the 4th Distribution Support Battalion and Staff Sgt. Claire Lybrand of Company A, Marine Corps Support Battalion, both receiving top honors.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd because both of their packages came out as a tie, we are recognizing both as our winners,\u201d Crandall said.<\/p>\n

Personnel Specialist 1st Class Nikita Sheline of Navy Reserve Center Denver received the Navy award. Finalists also included Personnel Specialist 3rd Class Nicholes Hurd and Cryptologic Technician 2nd Class Brett Roberson.<\/p>\n

The Air Force category, which included active-duty, Guard and Reserve personnel, produced three winners: Technical Sgt. Gabrianna Bonilla of Headquarters Air Reserve Personnel Center, Technical Sgt. Angie Luce of the 233rd Space Group with the Colorado Air National Guard, and Airman 1st Class David Godwin of the 460th Contracting Squadron.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Air Force field this year is our largest,\u201d Crandall told attendees.<\/p>\n

Technical Sgt. Theresa Poviboon of the 201st Space Operations Squadron at Aerospace Data Facility Colorado received the Space Force award.<\/p>\n

The Coast Guard award went to Intelligence Specialist 3rd Class Jeyden Clancy of Coast Guard Cryptologic Unit Colorado.<\/p>\n

Rob DeVall, the Chamber\u2019s director of military affairs, said this year\u2019s recipients represent the values the program was created to celebrate.<\/p>\n

\u201cTo our award winners: Thank you for setting the standard,\u201d DeVall said. \u201cTo our community: Thank you for standing behind them.\u201d<\/p>\n

Recipients received commemorative bricks as part of a partnership with the Colorado Freedom Memorial. Matching engraved pavers honoring each winner will be installed at the memorial\u2019s planned visitor and education center.<\/p>\n

\u201cA brick is a symbol. It\u2019s foundational,\u201d DeVall said. \u201cA brick says: You were here. You made a difference. And your impact will last.\u201d<\/p>\n

The luncheon also recognized longtime military advocate and former Democratic State Rep. Su Ryden with the Bob Cardenas Award, which honors civilians who have made significant contributions to the military community.<\/p>\n

Crandall praised Ryden\u2019s work as a former Colorado legislator and advocate for veterans and service members.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen her time in the Legislature ended, she didn\u2019t move on,\u201d Crandall said. \u201cShe moved deeper in.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ryden chaired the Colorado House State, Veterans and Military Affairs Committee during her time representing House District 36 and she helped champion legislation supporting veteran housing and investments at Buckley.<\/p>\n

The event also included special recognition for Crandall, who recently received the Association of Defense Communities\u2019 Defense Community Champion Award.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is his home. This is his event,\u201d DeVall said. \u201cWe were not going to let another day go by without giving him his flowers in front of the community that knows him best.\u201d<\/p>\n

Major Gen. Devin Pepper, deputy chief of staff for strategic plans and policy at NATO\u2019s Supreme Allied Command Transformation, delivered the keynote address and was later honored ahead of his retirement from the U.S. Space Force.<\/p>\n

DeVall praised Pepper\u2019s leadership during the establishment of the Space Force and his work during the COVID-19 pandemic.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe kept the base running. He kept people safe. He kept the mission going,\u201d DeVall said.<\/p>\n

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AURORA | The Aurora Chamber of Commerce honored military service members and civilian advocates during its 50th Armed Forces Recognition Luncheon last week, celebrating leadership, volunteerism and community service across multiple military branches. Held at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel in Denver this year, the annual event brought together military commanders, elected officials and business […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1189,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[19],"tags":[1713,1714,1715,1716,1717,282,1718],"class_list":["post-1190","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-metro","tag-airman-1st-class-david-godwin","tag-aurora-chamber-of-commerce","tag-major-gen-devin-pepper","tag-naomi-colwell","tag-rick-crandall","tag-rob-devall","tag-su-ryden"],"yoast_head":"\nMilitary rank-and-file, local advocates recognized at 50th Aurora Chamber event - Denver Moving Chronicle<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/denvermovingchronicle.com\/?p=1190\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Military rank-and-file, local advocates recognized at 50th Aurora Chamber event - Denver Moving Chronicle\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"AURORA | The Aurora Chamber of Commerce honored military service members and civilian advocates during its 50th Armed Forces Recognition Luncheon last week, celebrating leadership, volunteerism and community service across multiple military branches. 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