American Forces Network Europe broadcaster Michelle Michael, who works out of Mannheim, Germany, has been named Defense Department broadcast journalist of the year.

Michael, a civilian news producer who often hosts the network’s travel series “Destinations,” is one of 10 Europe-based AFN broadcast journalists to receive the Pentagon’s Thomas Jefferson Award.

Michael’s roles include network assignments editor, quality control manager of TV and radio products, and helping in the production and anchoring of the nightly newscast. The Ohio native is married with a 3-year-old son and has worked for AFN Europe since 2003.

Other AFN Europe recipients of the Thomas Jefferson Award are: