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Sky’s the limit: 618th AOC weather unit wins Air Force honors

  • Published
  • By 1st Lt. Nicole White
  • Air Mobility Command Public Affairs
SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. --  Their skills are simply stratospheric -- at least by U.S. Air Force standards. The 618th Air and Space Operations Center (Tanker Airlift Control Center) Weather Operations Directorate here recently won the 2011 Air Force Outstanding Specialized Weather Support Unit.

The 618th is the global air operations center responsible for centralized command and control of Air Force and commercial contract air mobility assets 24-hours-a-day. The Weather Operations Directorate provides weather products, services and briefings for mission planning and execution phases managed by the 618th for strategic airlift and air refueling crews operating worldwide.

"I am extremely proud of the men and women of the Weather Operations directorate," said Lt. Col. Lisa Coleman, 618th director of weather operations. "The pace of operations has kept everyone on their toes."

The Weather Operations Directorate provided time-sensitive weather expertise during operations Tomadachi and Unified Protector, helping answer the call after the Japanese earthquake and throughout the Libyan people's fight for freedom.

Throughout the year they continued playing a critical role helping support over 62,000 sorties and the delivery of over 2.1 million passengers and 720,000 tons of cargo, their award report states. In addition to providing vital support throughout the year, Weather Operations directorate went through a major revamp of unit processes improving productivity.

"I am happy that the members of the team got the recognition that they truly deserved," said Coleman.

In addition to the 618th's win, four individual awards were claimed by Scott AFB team members at the Air Force and Air Mobility Command level.

Additional AMC winners include:

Air Reserve Component Weather NCO of the Year
Tech. Sgt. Michael Griesemer, 12th Operational Weather Flight/618th Air and Space Operations Center, Scott AFB, Ill.

Air Force Weather Airman of the Year
Senior Airman Heath Litchfield, 15th Operational Weather Squadron, Scott AFB, Ill.

AMC Weather Field Grade Officer of the Year
Maj Brian Maes, 618th Air and Space Operations Center, Scott AFB, Ill.

AMC Weather Civilian of the Year
Mr. Shawn Dahl, 618th Air and Space Operations Center, Scott AFB, Ill.