The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Master Sergeant Shawn E. Brumfield, United States Air Force, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as C-17A Globemaster III Loadmaster at Aviano Air Base, Italy in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM, the United States-led war to liberate Iraq on 26 March 2003. On this date, the superior airmanship, professional skill, and courage exhibited by Sergeant Brumfield under extremely hazardous conditions culminated in the successful combat airdrop of heavy equipment from the 173rd Airborne Brigade into an austere airfield in northern Iraq. As the noncommissioned officer in charge of the flight lead for the largest nighttime single-pass airdrop since D-Day Sergeant Brumfield’s keen situational awareness and ability to overcome adversity proved critical in the overall success of the mission. A rigging problem discovered on a platform of Javelin missiles, the airborne brigade’s only heavy offensive armament, rendered the equipment unworthy to airdrop. Solving the issue meant that the formation might have to depart late, missing the support package being sent to aid their passage through the hostile territory. With time running out, the decision was made to try to re-rig the platform and to press on. Sergeant Brumfield expertly directed each detail of the parachute swap and rushed the Army riggers off the aircraft just prior to the proposed taxi time, keeping everything on schedule. After acquiring the point of impact the aircraft commander realized that the drop zone markings were in a different location than what was briefed before the mission. To avoid dropping the equipment off the drop zone and with only seconds to spare before the time-over-target, Sergeant Brumfield masterfully set up for a manual drop using the back-up aircraft systems. His expertise and skill enabled him to use this non-standard procedure allowing the platforms to exit the aircraft and strike the drop zone on-time and on-target. The professional competence, aerial skill, and devotion to duty displayed by Sergeant Brumfield reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.