Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta shakes the hand of Air Force Senior Airman Brian Colasacco after presenting him with an Air Force Achievement Medal during a ceremony at Peterson Air Force Base, Colo., July 29, 2011.

Colassaco received the medal for administering life-saving, emergency care to an Afghani citizen suffering from an open abdominal wound.

DOD photo by U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Jacob N. Bailey