AFCESA wins Air Force Organizational Excellence Award

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  • By HQ AFCESA
TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  The Air Force Civil Engineer Support Agency (AFCESA) was recently recognized with the Air Force Organizational Excellence Award. Air Force officials announced the 2009-2010 U. S. Air Force unit awards, naming AFCESA and 11 other units among the Air Force's best.

AFCESA was cited for "unprecedented support" of Air Force Explosive Ordnance Disposal teams in the field through enhanced automation, training, and personnel retention. The Readiness Support Division of the Agency created an automated module to analyze EOD incidents and provide critical data to identify issues such as operational trends and equipment deficiencies. This data has allowed Air Force civil engineers to respond quickly to address needs and support EOD warriors on the frontlines. In addition, AFCESA personnel have helped achieve the highest selective reenlistment bonus in EOD history and have reduced small unit stress in this critical career field.

Through the specialized knowledge of subject matter experts, AFCESA successfully addressed technical issues faced by Air Force civil engineers on the frontlines in Southwest Asia while assisting engineers in the maintenance of an aging Air Force infrastructure at legacy installations worldwide.

The Agency also completed field testing on an ultra high pressure firefighting system, which has been shown to be three times more effective than conventional firefighting methods and will revolutionize aircraft firefighting across the globe.

AFCESA's Air Force Facility Energy Center set new standards in energy conservation by validating more than 400 energy projects throughout the Air Force, including the largest Air Force-owned solar farm at Buckley Air Force Base, Colo. With these initiatives, AFCESA ensured that the Air Force continued to lead the federal government in the use of green power and spearheaded energy savings of 16.2 percent, surpassing federal mandates.

Colonel David Reynolds, AFCESA Commander, said of the Organizational Excellence Award, "I am proud to lead an organization that has been recognized for the superb support that its personnel provide to Air Force Civil Engineers around the world."

Personnel assigned or attached to AFCESA from Jan. 1, 2008, to Dec. 31, 2009, are authorized to wear the award ribbon. Personnel who have had a permanent change of station or assignment, and who are entitled to share in the approved unit award, should report to their servicing force support squadrons for assistance.

Since winning its first Air Force Organizational Excellence Award in 1975, AFCESA and its predecessor organizations have won this distinction twelve additional times. The Agency has also been selected twice for the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award.

The Secretary of the Air Force Personnel Council annually recognizes the achievements of unnumbered U.S. Air Force organizations or activities with the Air Force Organizational Excellence Award. Started in 1969, the award is presented to Air Force organizations which are entities within larger organizations that perform functions normally executed by numbered wings, groups, and squadrons.

AFCESA is a field operating agency that reports to the Office of the Civil Engineer at Headquarters United States Air Force, Washington, D.C. The Agency provides professional readiness, energy and operations support, tools, and practices to maximize Air Force engineering agile combat support worldwide.