Leadership, self-sacrifice, ingenuity: common traits among annual CE award winners

  • Published
  • By John Burt
  • AFCEC
TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  This week, civil engineers from across the Air Force will gather to honor distinguished achievements by their peers. At the 50th Civil Engineer Awards Banquet Feb. 23, more than 60 individual and unit awards will be given to CEs who have shown selflessness, dedication and initiative in performing their duties. This year's military and civilian winners share a common characteristic as outstanding CE professionals who "Lead from the front."

A prime example of self-sacrifice is Tech. Sgt. Dallas Bozeman, the winner of the Maj. Gen. Eugene A. Lupia Award for Outstanding Leadership. Bozeman is described as a fearless Airman, selfless in his protection of others. As an Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician with the 820th Combat Operations Squadron at Moody Air Force Base, Ga., Bozeman provided crucial EOD support to Coalition Forces. He led 96 high-risk missions, eliminating 64 improvised explosive devices and more than 550 IED components. He used combat lifesaver training to save the lives of seven critically wounded soldiers and prepare them for immediate transport. Bozeman also rescued a child shot during an ambush and, without regard to his own well-being, maneuvered into the line of fire, to aid a wounded teammate.

Staff Sgt. Aimi Mlekoday of the 507th Civil Engineer Squadron at Tinker AFB, Okla., also exemplifies characteristics of service before self. As the winner of this year's Air Force Outstanding Civil Engineer Manager of the Year Award, Mlekoday is not only a remarkable combat zone leader, but also a resourceful CE manager. While in Afghanistan, she directed Self-Aid Buddy Care medical treatment efforts to those wounded by multiple rocket attacks, ultimately saving the lives of two service members. Mlekoday also served as Intelligence Battle Captain and established the first civil engineer squadron intelligence center.

CE award winners have shown ingenuity when seeking ways to maximize efficiency and save money at all levels of the Air Force. For example, Michael Bear, a Powered Support Systems Mechanic at the Civil Engineer Maintenance, Inspection, and Repair Team at Tyndall AFB, Fla., is a highly trained and skilled technician who brings an efficiency mindset to his work. The winner of the Outstanding Civil Engineer Civilian Technician, Bear was able to reutilize $919,000 in Air Force equipment that was earmarked for disposal. He averted another $800,000 asset loss by identifying and correcting an error in supply accounting. Bear also spearheaded the overhaul of four mobile aircraft arresting systems, refurbishing 240 components, which doubled the equipment's life-cycle and saved $920,000.

Civil engineer units have also earned distinguished honors for the drive to perform their mission smarter, faster and more efficiently. The winner of the Air Force Outstanding Civil Engineer Unit Award is the 355th Civil Engineer Squadron of Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz. This unit has taken initiative to save money by looking for ways to manage their workload in-house. By handling 13 roofing projects themselves rather than outsourcing, the 355th CES saved the Air Force $1.2 million. In a task that provided additional power to key base facilities, they saved $1.5 million by installing the 17,000-ft. underground high-voltage cable instead of contracting the work. The 355th also saved $520,000 by internally designing a runway resurfacing project.

The 633rd Civil Engineer Squadron Asset Management Flight of Langley AFB, Va., earned top honors for, among other things, environmental accomplishments, efficiency and energy savings. Selected for the Maj. Gen. Del R. Eulberg Award, the 633rd CES Asset Management Flight negotiated the removal of numerous ground water parcels saving the Air Force $1.2 million in study and contracting costs. Also, by streamlining the National Environmental Policy Act compliance process, they were able to eliminate 1,500 manhours per year. The flight also successfully eliminated 6.3 megawatts of power usage through Air Combat Command's first power grid reduction program.

The CE awards will be presented to these and other winners from across the Air Force at the 50th Annual Civil Engineer Awards dinner at the Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling Officers' Club, Feb. 23. Military member award category winners will wear the Air Force recognition ribbon and civilian winners will be given the Air Force recognition lapel pin.