Acquisition & Sustainment Excellence
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Acquisition & Sustainment Excellence Alyssa Heaton, a computer scientist in the 309th Software Engineering Group, checks out software upgrades as she “flies” in an F-16 simulator over Las Vegas, Nev. The 309th Software Engineering Group has a positive and direct impact across multiple essential platforms such as the A-10, F-16, F-22, F-35, Ground Based Strategic Deterrent, Space Systems, and Command and Control. U.S. Air Force photo by Alex R. Lloyd Ogden ALC Named Top Air Force Maintenance Depot Eric Fox, Ogden ALC’s vice director, gives all the credit to the 75TH AIR BASE WING PUBLIC AFFAIRS (APRIL 5, 2021) women and men of the Ogden Complex, and said the award Donovan Potter highlights their exceptionalism and commitment to the nation. HILL AIR FORCE BASE, Utah—The Ogden Air Logistics Complex won the 2020 Maintenance Effectiveness Award “To me, a key element that is highlighted by the award is our recognizing it as the top depot in the Air Force. people,” Fox said. “When you see a list of all the things that were accomplished, what put us over the top is they clearly The award is presented annually to the unit that most demonstrated the Ogden team is dedicated to producing successfully managed resources to provide safe and readiness for the warfighter, especially during a year impacted serviceable equipment for sustained use in peacetime and in so many ways by COVID-19.” wartime. Fox said they were able to break through constraints and use During this past year, the complex managed 8.2 million innovative ways to stay very close to planned production maintenance hours to repair and overhaul 264 A-10, C-130, because of the Ogden ALC team member’s exceptional F-16, F-22, F-35, and T-38 aircraft; 3,904 missile items; 62,836 commitment to the nation. commodity repairs; and provided software sustainment for seven major commands, an air reserve component, and 27 “I want to pass on a thank you on behalf of General von international partners. Hoffman [ALC commander], Col. Hall Sebren [ALC vice commander] and myself, to the women and men of the Defense Acquisition: July-August 2021 1 Acquisition & Sustainment Excellence complex and their outstanding leaders at all levels, who made this award possible,” he said. “Their professionalism is an integral part of the Air Force team that protects our nation.” The Ogden ALC employs 8,970 military, civilian, and contract personnel in 155 job series at Hill AFB and at 10 remote locations in the United States and Japan. The scope of responsibility includes depot repair and maintenance; overhaul and modification of Air Force aircraft; the Minuteman ICBM system; and a variety of commodities, software, and aircraft storage and regeneration. Air Force Research Laboratory Engineer Receives Vaught Visionary Leadership Award AIR FORCE RESEARCH LABORATORY (APRIL 6, 2021) Mary Pacinda WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio—Diane Buhrmaster, Coatings Technology Team Lead for the Air Force Research Laboratory’s Materials and Manufacturing Directorate, was awarded the 2020 Brigadier General Wilma Vaught Visionary Leadership Award in the Civilian Category. This annual award was created in honor of General Vaught for her outstanding service and dedication to the Air Force and the nation. It is presented to an officer (O-6 and below), enlisted person (E-9 and below) and a civilian (GS-15 and below) to Diane Buhrmaster, engineer at the Air Force Research recognize that individual’s visionary leadership, innovative Laboratory’s Materials and Manufacturing Directorate, efforts, and beneficial effect on the U.S. Air Force. received the 2020 Brigadier General Wilma Vaught Visionary Leadership Award in the Civilian Category. Buhrmaster was nominated partly on the basis of her U.S. Air Force courtesy photo leadership role as a charter member of Air Force Women in Science and Engineering (AFWiSE). Perhaps more importantly, Buhrmaster, as senior materials engineer, has been heading Buhrmaster, however, would be the first to make it clear that up a research team that has made great progress eliminating she isn’t doing the work only for the awards. hexavalent chromium from aircraft coatings — a top Secretary of Defense priority. “I work to do a good job and to move things forward,” she said, “and to have an impact that really helps the military guy or gal Chromium-based compounds have been used for corrosion who’s out there doing whatever their mission is and make sure protection of aircraft surfaces since before World War II. they get home.” Because they have been identified as extremely hazardous to both the environment and human health, chromium coatings Buhrmaster further stresses that the award is not the true are being phased out. Buhrmaster’s role as team leader to find reward for a job well done, either for her or her team. The a suitable replacement coating has not only provided benefit reward is “making sure that these people who are someone’s to the Air Force, but to industry as well. children, someone’s son or daughter, someone’s spouse — someone’s loved one — comes back in at least the same This is hardly Buhrmaster’s first achievement award. In 2019, condition that they left in. That’s the focus. That’s why we she received the Air Force Science, Engineering, and Technical do it.” Management (STEM) Award, in the Mid-Career Civilian category. In 2018, her team received the Air Force Research An alum of both Wright State University and the University of Laboratory, Materials and Manufacturing Directorate, Dayton, Buhrmaster has 20 years of science and engineering International Team Award. In that same year, she was awarded experience supporting AFRL’s technology development in the Robert T. Schwartz Engineering Achievement Award. various aspects of aircraft coatings. 2 Defense Acquisition: July-August 2021 Acquisition & Sustainment Excellence The director of AFRL’s Materials and Manufacturing Natural Resources Conservation, Large Installation: Eglin Air Directorate, Timothy J. Sakulich, congratulated Buhrmaster. Force Base, Florida — Developed a four-pronged approach to gopher tortoise conservation. Through a fiscal year “Diane is an exceptional leader whose character, dedication, 2020 memorandum of agreement with the Florida Fish and and innovative spirit is a role model for others,” said Sakulich. Wildlife Conservation Commission and Florida Fish and “She continues to be a pioneer in turning the art of the possible Wildlife Foundation, Eglin became the primary recipient into high-impact, practical solutions for the Air Force. Her site for gopher tortoise populations that alternative energy efforts have specifically enabled the performance and production had displaced across Florida. During FY 2019- availability of U.S. Air Force aircraft and support equipment 2020, conservationists moved more than 2,300 gopher in ways that are more affordable and environmentally smart — tortoises to the installation, and Eglin is on track to reach its and she is mentoring and inspiring the next generation of talent goal of receiving 6,000 tortoises by 2023. along the way. Diane truly epitomizes the qualities celebrated by this prestigious award.” 2 About AFRL Environmental Quality, Industrial Installation: Marine Corps Air Station Camp Pendleton, California — Partnered with The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) is the primary scientific the Carlsbad Fish and Wildlife Office to remove vegetation research and development center for the Department of the obstructions in the runway clear zone. By re-scoping the project Air Force. AFRL plays an integral role in leading the discovery, and conducting a new, streamlined National Environmental development, and integration of affordable warfighting technologies Policy Act environmental assessment, the installation lowered for our air, space, and cyberspace force. With a workforce of more the project’s cost from $20 million to $7.8 million. than 11,000 across nine technology areas and 40 other operations across the globe, AFRL provides a diverse portfolio of science and 3 technology ranging from fundamental to advanced research and technology development. For more information, visit: http://www. Environmental Quality, Overseas Installation: Yokota Air Base, afresearchlab.com. Japan — Employed an environmental inspection process that reduced the need for one-time shop ramp-ups for inspections. DoD Announces 2021 Environmental Award Winners The team performed more frequent inspections spread DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE NEWS (APRIL 22, 2021) throughout the year, which resulted in a smoother, more David Vergun balanced workload. In FY 2020, Yokota Air Base conducted 174 The Defense Department announced the winners of the 2021 environmental inspections and identified or corrected 17 out of Secretary of Defense Environmental Awards today. 19 significant discrepancies, which increased environmental compliance by 90%. The awards recognize installations, teams, and individuals for their accomplishments in innovative and cost-effective 4 environmental management strategies that support mission readiness. Sustainability, Non-Industrial Installation: U.S. Army Garrison Fort Polk, Louisiana — Used advanced technologies to reduce On tackling the climate change crisis, Secretary of Defense energy and water use; increased the installation’s resilience Lloyd J. Austin III said: “We will elevate climate as a national through renewable onsite resources; and reduced greenhouse security priority, integrating climate considerations into the gas emissions from transportation, facilities, and construction.