Third time around for 16th Services employee

12 Jun 2006 | Jamie Haig

June 15 in Denver, Colo., 10 days after his 73rd birthday, Jim Hernandez, 16th Services Squadron, received the Air Force Services Civilian Specialist Award for demonstrating the best leadership, management, customer focus and operational outcome.

After 24 years with the U.S. Army as a military policeman and 20 years working as a fraud investigator for an insurance company, Jim Hernandez moved to Navarre, Fla.,and started his third career in services at Hurlburt Field.

"Jim is an outstanding employee," said Nate Harris, 16th SVS Outdoor Recreation director. "He's always here when we need him - day or night."

Nine years later, Mr. Hernandez, assistant to the director of outdoor recreation, has done every job there is involving the outdoors from cleaning upafter hurricanes to base events. He became the interim director during the spring and summer of 2005, until a new director could be assigned.

After Hurricane Ivan, the marina lost two of its buildings and a gas tank. Mr. Hernandez arranged for replacement equipment and then oversaw the $750,000 marina repair project.

Mr. Hernandez was directly responsible for the $250,000 redesign of the 16th Special Operations Wing picnic area and the building of two new pavilions for visitors to use.

He's taught more than 20 swim classes and hired and trained summer-hire lifeguards.

But his safety expertise doesn't stop there - it extends to the fireworks show held every year during the Sound of Independence. He also safely evacuated 48 family campers before Hurricanes Dennis and Katrina winds arrived.

Mr. Hernandez has also begun several revenue-generating programs for Outdoor Recreation.

He reinstated the ‘Teal Program' where Airmen and families can rent anything from a grill, table, chairs and a tent, to ski boats, pontoons and kayaks as a package.

He started a sandwich bar at themarina to feed the hungry visitors and added paintball fields, netting an additional $1,500 in revenue.

After one hurricane damaged the paintball fields, Mr. Hernandez had them rebuilt and re-installed safety netting and barricades, enabling the fields to re-open within two weeks and resume generating income.

His responsibilities don't end there, not as long as he has the time.

He's assisted with the Information, Tickets and Tours Travel Expo; Tops in Blue as well volunteering for several golf tournaments.

"Jim is committed to his job - 100%," said Mr. Harris. "He does a great job - no matter the job."

The revenue generated by Mr. Hernandez is in the hundreds of thousands of dollars, but that's not why he does this job.

"It's fun to watch folks come back in after being out on the water all day," said Mr. Hernandez. "I enjoy what I do."

Mr. Hernandez was surprised to find out he won at the Air Force level.

"I had brought home the plaque I won for wing level and showed my wife," said Mr. Hernandez. "Then Nate called the house and told us I won for the Air Force. I was surprised because there are a lot of great people in services doing great things."