Air Force officials select 2010 team excellence award winners

22 Sep 2010 |

Air Force officials recently selected five teams to receive 2010 Chief of Staff Team Excellence awards for finding creative ways to enhance mission capabilities, improve operational performance and create sustained results.

The innovations and business solutions the competing Air Force teams developed to improve processes and conserve resources were outstanding, said Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz.

"These award winners truly exemplify our core values," General Schwartz said. "They are dedicated to making us more effective and more efficient, both of which are critical for the Air Force in today's challenging strategic environment."

According to officials, improvements made by the five award-winning teams and other 16 nominees are expected to save the Air Force more than $198 million in the first year alone.

"The competition was extremely tough this year, with 73 teams competing at major commands resulting in 21 Air Force-level nominations," said Grover Lindsey, Air Force Manpower Agency Performance Management Division Chief.

The five award winners are:

-- The C-17 Refuel Value Stream Analysis Team at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany. This team is also an Air Force best practice award recipient.

-- The Charter School Working Group Team at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz. This team is also an Air Force best practice award recipient.

-- The Combat Safety Improvement Team at Spangdahlem AB, Germany.

-- The Haiti Flight Operations Coordination Center Team at Travis AFB, Calif. This team is also an Air Force best practice award recipient.

-- The Periodic Inspection Smart Operations Team at Royal Air Force Mildenhall, England. This team is also an Air Force best practice award recipient.

The judges also recognized the Major Validation/Verification Team at Stewart Air National Guard Base, N.Y., with an Air Force best practice award.

"All the judges were completely energized by these Airmen and their spirit," said Brig. Gen. Stephen Wilson, the Air Force director of Joint Integration at the Directorate of Operational Capability Requirements and senior judge for the event. "We had the honor to observe 21 innovative teams that provided efficient and affordable solutions to a range of mission challenges affecting our Airmen and their families. Our nation is in great hands with dedicated men and women like these."

(Courtesy of Air Force Personnel Center Public Affairs)