Sibling rivalry part of Commander in Chief Excellence Award Competition

Published Jan. 10, 2014
By Senior Airman Madelyn Brown
60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs

TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- The Commander-in-Chief's Installation Excellence Award assessment team toured Travis Monday and Tuesday for an extensive look at the Golden Bears' innovation in enhancing base-level services, facilities and quality of life.

"Our vision was two-fold," said Lt. Col. Jacqueline Breeden, 22nd Airlift Squadron commander and Travis lead for the CINC tour. "First, to show how integrated and effective our partnerships are across all three wings. Secondly, that Travis is innovative and efficient doing what we do across the base all the time."

According to AFI26-2831, the purpose of CINC IEA is, "to recognize the outstanding efforts of the people who operate and maintain Department of Defense installations and who have done the best with their resources to support the mission. The award encourages commanders to create an environment that promotes innovative and creative ways of enhancing base-level services, facilities, and quality-of-life."

Golden Bears from across the base harnessed the opportunity to showcase their unique innovations and processes.

"The Travis Team did what we do best," Breeden said. "We came together to get the job done with little notice and limited time to prepare. More importantly, everyone was motivated, focused and committed to the effort and I couldn't be more pleased with how well we executed our vision for the visit."

Travis will compete against Altus Air Force Base, Okla., for the title of most excellent installation and the $1 million prize.

For Lt. Col. Daniel Guinan, 60th Civil Engineer Squadron commander, the competition between Travis and Altus hits closer to home. CINC IEA 2014 has turned into a brotherly-competition against his older sibling, Rich Guinan, who serves as the Altus historian.

In December, Rich Guinan discovered Altus was in consideration for the award.

"When I heard our competition was Travis I knew my brother would put up a good fight," Rich Guinan said. "We were both raised with a competitive streak."

For the Guinan family, the global competition has turned into a family affair.

"My brother and I didn't talk on Christmas or New Year so as to not spoil the drama," Daniel Guinan said. "The whole family is watching the competition very closely."

"I told our mom about it and she called him to see what he had to say, but she couldn't get any information out of him either," Rich Guinan said.

Daniel Guinan, who claims to be the younger, smarter, and better looking of the Guinan brothers, recognizes the larger scope of importance for the CINC IEA, despite the additional brotherly competition.

"No matter what I might say in public, I am extremely proud of Rich's 23 years of service on active duty and his continued service as a GS employee," Daniel Guinan said. "I know he has done great things at Altus and they deserve to be in the finals. No matter who wins the competition, we have all contributed to making the Air Force better."

Competition inspires improvement, innovation and efficiency, Breeden said. Competition offers the chance to learn better strategies and methods. In this competition, at the end of the day, everyone is on the same team.

The winner of CINC IEA 2014 is scheduled to be announced in March.