AFCEE announces best of best

  • Published
  • By Jennifer Schneider
  • AFCEE Public Affairs
LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  The Air Force Center for Engineering and the Environment's best of the best for 2010 were announced Feb. 17.

"Our annual winners demonstrated that they, along with their supporting cast, were able to go the extra mile in 2010," said AFCEE Director Terry Edwards. "I look forward to continued success in 2011 to further help the Air Force mission through building sustainable installations."

Four employees were selected as superior performers in their areas of responsibility. 

Annual winner Shubha Chakravarty, a student intern in AFCEE's Technical Division, has proven himself a leader in the organization, said Thomas Hodges, a TD branch chief.

"Shubha is very self-motivated and a great self-starter," Mr. Hodges said. "Even as an intern, he can organize, research and determine everything he needs to do to get the job done. He's very technical and smart, and is already very skilled. We're going to hate to see him go."

During the award period, Mr. Chakravarty led a team to perform a space optimization and utilization study at Lackland, evaluating 15 facilities, resulting in several recommendations, one of which is already being implemented. He was also a key member of an assistance team to recommend alternative cooling solutions for facilities in the United Kingdom and Germany.

Mr. Chakravarty also provided technical reach-back support on mechanical issues and, as the senior Palace Acquire intern in AFCEE, mentored other interns both within AFCEE and across the Air Force, providing advice and recommendations for accomplishing rotations and training.

In his spare time, he provided free tutoring to math and engineering students in pre-calculus and statistics.

Winner Kent Grubb is AFCEE's go-to lawyer for complex contract and environmental law issues, according to Lt. Col. Kathleen O'Rourke, Legal Division chief.

"Kent provides (the legal division) with an exceptional blend of contract and environ-mental law expertise," said Colonel O'Rourke. "He has been the lead for legal support to (the assistance secretary of the Air Force installations, environment and logistics') multi-million dollar initiative to convert the environmental restoration program to performance-based remediation contracts."

During the year, Mr. Grubb wrote 180 legal reviews of contract actions worth $3 billion.

He regularly provides consulting services for Air Force leaders, and was tapped by the assistant secretary of the Air Force for installations, environment and logistics to participate in rapid improvement events for performance-based contracts. He skillfully identified weaknesses with the contracting vehicle, reviewed acquisition strategy and developed responses to over 100 questions in support of AFCEE Industry Day. He is knowledgeable in contingency contract law, reviewing dozens of overseas area-of-responsibility contracts.
 
Away from work, Mr. Grubb is an educator and spiritual advisor for community youth at church summer camp, and is also a member of a benevolence committee, assisting those less fortunate.

Craig Mayo, with AFCEE's Contingency Construction Division, is the third winner for 2010.

"Craig provides exceptional insight and direction that is essential to our division's ability to support the combatant commander in the (overseas area of responsibility)," said Col. Terry Watkins, AFCEE Contingency Construction Division chief. "His contributions both as branch chief and as deputy division chief were pivotal to guiding our construction efforts for the warfighter."

Over the last year, Mr. Mayo led the acquisition of over $750 million of critical Afghan National Army and Police construction in fiscal 2010, the success of which led to AFCEE executing 60 Afghan National Security Force projects valued at over $700 million in fiscal 2011. He led quality assurance oversight and engineering support of over $1 billion in active construction in the AOR. He also provided support and oversight of several high profile projects, including the Afghan National Defense University and the Afghan "Pentagon."

Mr. Mayo also led efforts to refine his division's processes, leading to improved, streamlined acquisitions.

AFCEE's fourth annual winner is Capt. Ferdinand Maldonado, a member of the Contingency Construction Division.

"Captain Maldonado is an outstanding staff officer who has parlayed his recent deployment experience, at our AFCEE office in Afghanistan, to make him an indispensable team member," said Lt. Col. Matthew Bobb, an AFCEE Contingency Construction Division branch chief.

The captain was a 2010 first-quarter superior performer, and led planning and construction for 30 critical AFSF projects. He also logged more than 169 missions in volatile areas, including a survey team in Afghanistan's most dangerous province.

He managed the construction of the $142 million Afghan National Defense University, and led U.S. Central Command's counter-narcotics project design. He is proactive in obtaining additional training to enhance his skills, routinely surpassing requirements.

He also believes in assisting those less fortunate, and teamed with his wife for a Christmas charity event, providing more than 12,000 stuffed animals for local children.  He also supported a village outreach effort while deployed, packing and delivering aid to over 500 Afghan families.