Senior Master Sergeant Edward N. Taylor III distinguished himself by exceptional service while assigned to the Ohio Air National Guard from 1 January 2012 to 31 December 2012. Sergeant Taylor demonstrated exceptional leadership and guidance while deployed as First Sergeant, 380th Expeditionary Force Support Squadron, 380th Expeditionary Mission Support Group, 380th Air Expeditionary Wing, Al Dhafra Air Base, United Arab Emirates. The outstanding leadership abilities, professional skill and dedication to the mission of Sergeant Taylor resulted in major contributions to the morale welfare and esprit de corps of 133 Airmen in four different units. Moreover, Sergeant Taylor supported enlisted development by chairing 4 panels, authoring and presenting professional development seminars which prepared 48 Airmen for increased roles and responsibilities.  In addition, Sergeant Taylor was peer elected to serve as vice-president of the first sergeant’s council, leading 12 Air Force and Army first sergeants and subject matter expert for 474 deployed guard members where he demonstrated a high level of leadership ability. Finally, Sergeant Taylor has been board member, mentor and lead instructor for the Columbus Metropolitan Young Astronauts Program for over 5 years. The YAP is an educational program that focuses on the teaching of math and science to inner city and at-risk middle school youth through aviation based activities, and instill rock-solid character traits and self-motivating ideas. The singularly distinctive accomplishments of Sergeant Taylor reflect great credit upon himself, the United States Air Force, the Air National Guard and the State of Ohio.