Hurlburt Wins Award
Secretary of the Air Force Michael B. Donley announced that Hurlburt Field is the Air Force winner of the Commander In Chief’s 2009 Installation Excellence Award. The award recognizes the Air Force installation that most demonstrates innovative programs which create and sustain excellent base operations.
Col. Gregory J. Lengyel, 1st Special Operations Wing commander says the recognition comes at a time when they are globally engaged in overseas contingency operations. The colonel says the award speaks to the effort, dedication, and commitment of everyone residing and working on this installation.
The president of the United States established the Commander In Chief’s annual award in 1984 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, and it comes with a $1 million prize to use for quality of life improvements on base.
Colonel Lengyel says the IESB team was most impressed with their people. The base plans to use the prize money to repair and upgrade a sports field located behind the Aderholt Fitness Center.
Eglin Change of Command
On May 1st there will be a change of command when Maj. Gen. David Eidsaune, Program Executive Officer for Weapons and Air Armament Center commander, will relinquish command to Maj. Gen. Charles Davis. Gen. Don Hoffman, Air Force Material Command commander, will officiate.
The street near the new Explosive Ordnance Facility on the 33rd side will be named “Capra Loop” in honor of Tech Sgt. Anthony Capra. Sergeant Capra was killed April 9 near Golden Hills, Iraq, of wounds suffered when he encountered an improvised explosive device. He was awarded a Bronze Star in May 2006.
EOD Memorial Service
The Department of Defense Explosive Ordnance Disposal community (EOD) is hosting the Annual EOD Memorial Ceremony on May 2 at 9 a.m. at the EOD Memorial at the Kauffman EOD Training Complex on Range Road D-51 in Niceville, FL.
Six names will be added to the memorial wall. The guest speaker will be General James Mattis, Commander, U.S. Joint Forces Command and Supreme Allied Commander, Transformation.
Until Next Time, God Bless America!