Maintenance Group recognizes top performers, dedicates crew chiefs

  • Published
  • By Jake Shaw
  • 482nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs
HOMESTEAD ARB, FL --  The 482nd Maintenance Group hosted an awards ceremony Oct. 15 at the base fitness center to recognize top maintenance performers.

The ceremony also included the dedication of fourteen Mako F-16 crew chiefs, who will be known from now on as the dedicated crew chiefs for their respective aircraft.

Col. T. Glenn Davis, 482nd Maintenance Group commander, began the ceremony with an overview of the Maintenance Group's new attitude and focus, telling the group they have come a long way in a short time.

"We're here today because the 482nd Maintenance Group will no longer crouch in a defensive position as an organization. We're now reclaiming the pride and prestige deserving of a unit that performs the most important job in the Air Force; fixing and flying combat aircraft," he said.

"I've traveled to many bases and I see that maintainers are often overlooked, but that era of being overlooked at this base ends now, because we have gone far too long without recognizing our people" he added.

Col. Davis also elaborated on the theme of the ceremony; "Turning the Beat Around."

"You have taken this unit from the lowest Mission Complete rate in Air Force Reserve Command to the highest, and you deployed overseas with near perfection in deployment, employment and redeployment," he said.

During the ceremony, pilots of the 93rd Fighter Squadron presented miniature tail flashes to fourteen crew chiefs who became the 'owners' of the dedicated Mako F-16 they maintain.

Later Col. Davis invited 482nd Fighter Wing Commander Col. Randy Falcon to center stage to recognize the maintenance professionals of the year. Thirteen individuals received awards in the following categories: support professionals, maintenance professionals, civilian professional, support individual, outstanding work section, outstanding team, outstanding weapons load crew, dedicated crew chief, outstanding officer, first sergeant and finally the golden eagle award.

The golden eagle award was presented to Chief Master Sgt. Fred Hennagan, in part for his service "from the front lines of Balad Air Base, Iraq, to the cloakrooms of the Chief's conferences."

Also of note, Master Sgt. Bob Michalak was named a dedicated crew chief for aircraft tail flash number Aircraft 86-0318, which is the 482nd Fighter Wing's flagship and is flown by the wing commander. Later in the ceremony Sgt. Michalak would be recognized again, this time as the outstanding dedicated crew chief of the year.

A quote from Col. Davis during the ceremony provided good guidance for all in attendance, "The strength of the team is the member and the strength of the member is the team."

Sidebar:  "Proud sponsors of the 93rd Fighter Squadron Makos"
Tail flash                Dedicated crew chief
A-318                      Master Sgt. Bob Michalak
A-406                      Master Sgt. Les Frasure
A-265                      Staff Sgt. Marcio Mattos
A-404                      Tech. Sgt. C.J. Heinbaugh
A-337                      Tech. Sgt. Chris Wilton
A-405                      Tech. Sgt. Adam Kosowsky
A-264                      Master Sgt. Brian Mahoney
A-334                      Master Sgt. Terry Rios
A-402                      Master Sgt. Wayne Ketter
A-319                      Tech Sgt. Phil Vargas
A-259                      Tech. Sgt. Juan Guerra
A-267                      Tech. Sgt. Matthew Thornton
A-380                      Staff Sgt. Cory Cain
A-0053                    Tech. Sgt. James Dahne

Individual and Team Awards
2006 Airman Support Professional of the Year: Senior Airman Kristy M. Ayala-Rosado
2006 Airman Maintenance Professional of the Year: Staff Sgt. Adam Cartwright
2006 NCO Support Professional of the Year: Tech. Sgt. Alex Mion
2006 NCO Maintenance Professional of the Year: Tech. Sgt. Leslie Brandt
2006 Senior NCO Support Professional of the Year: Master Sgt. Michael Uzzell
2006 Senior NCO Maintenance Professional of the Year: Senior Master Sgt. Katdo Robinson
2006 Outstanding Civilian of the Year: James Buzek
2006 Outstanding Contributor of the Year: Debbie Lippincott
2006 Outstanding Team of the Year: Propulsion Shop
2006 Outstanding Weapons Load Crew of the Year: Weapons Load Crew #9
2006 Dedicated Crew Chief of the Year: Master Sgt. Bob Michalak
2006 Outstanding Officer of the Year: Capt. Gregory Behr
2006 First Sgt. of the Year: Senior Master Sgt. Freddie Harris
2006 Golden Eagle Trophy Recipient: Chief Master Sgt. Fred Hennagan