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Dover named best in AMC

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Kevin Wallace
  • 436th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. --  Dover Air Force Base rose above the rest of Air Mobility Command, as officials awarded Team Dover the AMC Commander in Chief's Installation Excellence Award, Nov. 2.

Wings from 12 installations competed for the award. AMC's evaluation team scored seven different focus areas in 26 functional specialties. Within those areas, Team Dover offered 137 areas of excellence for evaluator review during a 10-hour visit.

The award includes $100,000 for quality-of-life projects at the base. 
 
The winning trophy and check were presented to Team Dover by Maj. Gen. James Hawkins, 18th Air Force commander, on behalf of the AMC commander, Gen. Arthur Lichte, in a celebration at the base theater, Nov. 7.

"I can't say it any more clearly - you were magnificent!" said Col. Steven Harrison, 436th Airlift Wing commander. "Being the best does not come easy, yet you've shown yourself to be the best mobility wing, in the best Air Force on the planet. In the wake of a very hectic schedule and days of downpour and high winds, Team Dover had the base looking spectacular," he continued.  "Our Airmen's apparent enthusiasm and mission focus carried the day."

For most of the competing units in AMC, preparation meant one wing on one base getting ready to shine. However, for Dover, circumstances were not as simple.

"This was a Team Dover effort highlighting the outstanding synergy and accomplishments of the Eagle and Liberty Wings, our tenant units and the local community," said Maj. Dave Glass, 436th Maintenance Operations Squadron commander, who, according to Colonel Harrison, was paramount to Team Dover's success.

One unique aspect was the base's stand-up of an "action center" for the visit.

"(The center was) the centralized command and control that made our perfect synchronization of the five members of the team to 137 different sites on the base a possibility," said Colonel Harrison. "This synchronization was one item the team described as 'amazing.'"

Another aspect was the commitment of Colonel Harrison's hand-picked team, led by Col. Dennis Daley, 436th Maintenance Group commander.

As AMC winners, Team Dover's written award package will be forwarded to represent AMC and compete against all other major commands. Headquarters Air Force will review written nominations from all major commands and select the top two bases as finalists.

Subsequently, the top two bases will receive an Air Force evaluation team visit in January or February. The top base will earn the title 'Best in the Air Force,' and win $1 million for quality-of-life projects.

The following individuals were lauded as "outstanding performers" by the AMC inspection team: Capt. Thomas Abell, 436th Mission Support Squadron; Capt. Mark Slik, 436th Communications Squadron; Senior Master Sgt. Matthew Fortier, 436th Logistics Readiness Squadron; Tech. Sgt. Jennifer Hellwig, 436th Operations Support Squadron; and JoAnne Deramo, 436th Civil Engineer Squadron.