SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. -- Colonel Patrick Doherty, 4th Fighter Wing commander and his wife, Dee Dee were announced as the Air Combat Command nominee for the 2012 General and Mrs. Jerome F. O'Malley Award.

The annual award recognizes the wing commander and spouse team who have best exhibited their own courage, power and grace in caring for Air Force families, and whose contributions to the nation, the Air Force and the surrounding community best exemplify the highest ideals and positive influence of a military couple serving in a key leadership position.

The award is named after O'Malley and his wife, Diane, who were killed in an aircraft crash in 1985 while en route to a Boy Scout fund-raising banquet in Scranton, Pa. The couple was well-known for their leadership, contributions and dedication to Air Force families and communities.

Doherty leads a wing of nearly 5,700 Airmen and civilians with 94 combat-capable F-15E Strike Eagles and wing assets valued at $5.1 billion contributing more than $520 million to the local economy.

The Doherty's nomination is centered on being role models, leading Airmen and their families while keeping a mission-first attitude.

"Seeing Airmen and their families being successful and able to take on challenges is the real reward," said Doherty. "It's not about us, we just happen to be [the] leadership."

The 4th Fighter Wing claimed eight Headquarters Air Force awards, six Numbered Air Force and 38 Major Command level awards during Doherty's command.

"We have enormous amounts of talent, the right people, and the finest people of our country wearing the uniform here," said Doherty.

The 4th Fighter Wing has deployed thousands of Airmen during Doherty's command and he described being humbled to be the last face they see before stepping to the plane and the first to greet them when they come home.

"The real honor is making sure they are trained, firing [them] up and letting them know how important what they do for their country is and to instill that sense of purpose [in their duties]," said Doherty. "We try to really empower families to take on the challenges [that come with deployments]."

Exemplifying the role of supporting spouse, Dee Dee runs the Key Spouse program, a formal wing program that offers peer-to-peer and wingman family support and takes care of the families of deployed Airmen. Participation in this program is voluntary, but highly and strengthens family resiliency, particularly during deployments.

"We can't do it alone. There are great spouses willing to step up and take on those roles," said Mrs. Doherty. "It's not a job they apply for, but they step up and do it because they support their spouses and they know these other families may need help," she said.

The Dohertys created the grassroots program "Airmen's Task Force" that focuses on identifying and reversing self-defeating behavior in young Airmen while recapturing and emphasizing the importance of team building efforts. They also have been the Air Force's leading edge when it comes to resiliency, as they created resiliency training for NCOs, airman leadership school classes, first term airman center classes, spouses and teenagers.

"We have been extremely blessed with the people around us, so when we come up with plans or efforts to take on challenges to influence a stronger team into the future, we've had the people to take the lead," said Doherty. "We just give a little bit of guidance and they are off and running."

The most rewarding interactions for the Dohertys are the open and honest daily conversations with Airmen and their families.

"Those are the times you feel like you're making a difference; when you're talking to someone on a personal level and you can hear what they have to say," said Mrs. Doherty. "It's great to hear what's going on in their lives...it's so good to see people relax and just talk."

"We always try to bring new things in," she said. "Society is changing; we listen to what's going on and see what [new ideas and programs] we can bring in."

Their teamwork and dedication, coupled with the incredible talent here have made it possible to take care of the people while continuing to focus on mission success.

"It's in the [4th Fighter Wing] fabric and that's why the organization gets highlighted like it does," said Doherty. "They are making things better every day."

Running parallel to the wing's mission, the Dohertys continually interact with civic leaders and local schools to continue the positive base and community partnership. They have been instrumental in bringing new software and initiatives to the local county public school system. Dee Dee participated in a Dancing with the Stars education fundraiser--raising more than $80,000.

As the Air Combat Command nominees, the couple will go on to compete at the Air Force level.