The awards and honors keep coming for onenative Brookhavenite.

    Senior Airman Gregory C. Walker, 23, of Brookhaven, was recentlychosen as Airman of the Year in the 23rd Security Force Squadron ofthe United States Air Force, according to his father, GregoryWalker.

    The younger Walker has served for three and a half years in theUSAF and has been on two tours of duty in Afghanistan, mostrecently returning in May of last year.

    He is currently assigned to Moody Air Force Base in Valdosta, Ga.,according to the elder Walker.

    The USAF previously selected Walker to speak at a militarycelebration in Afghanistan at Bagram Airfield, which commemoratedthe Air Force’s 62nd birthday.

    Walker was a 2007 graduate of Brookhaven High School where heplayed outside linebacker for coach Tucker Peavey and ran track andplaced second at the state track meet in the high hurdles hissenior year.

    Walker said his son was a leader and an outstanding student at BHSas well as his church, Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church. Thatexperience has helped him in the USAF.

    “His goals are to gain experience in the USAF and eventually becomean officer,” said Walker. “But I can already tell how much he’smatured in the time he’s been in the USAF, and he was very maturefor his age before he left. I’m very proud of him.”

    Walker attended Copiah-Lincoln Community College for a year beforejoining the Air Force and going through basic training at LacklandAir Force Base in San Antonio, Texas. He is currently going throughthe process of getting accepted into the Air Force Academy inColorado Springs, Colo.