$30K awarded to three Airmen

Published May 17, 2006
By Airman 1st Class James Dickens
16th Special Operations Wing Public Affairs

HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. -- Three Hurlburt Field NCOs were recently approved to receive $10,000 each for coming up with new ideas, saving the Air Force money as a result.

Master Sgt. Mark Gauthier, Air Force Special Operations Command A4, Tech. Sgt. Arnoldo Cuevas, 16th Civil Engineer Squadron, and Tech. Sgt. Matthew Wilson, AFSOC A4, are expected to save the Air Force more than $865,000 a year with their suggestions.

Sergeant Gauthier, developed the plan and procedure for repairing aircraft accessory drive housings on T56 engines in the field rather than sending the whole engine to depot.

Sergeant Cuevas’ idea involved “Exit” signs in buildings around base. He came up with an idea to replace electrically powered “Exit” signs with glow in the dark signs.
These signs use ambient light to charge and require no electricity.

They are also guaranteed for 25 years and require none of the normal maintenance and inspection tasks as the old signs.

Sergeant Wilson’s idea is expected to save the most money at more than $508,000 a year. He recommended replacing the MH-53 high frequency radio antenna with a more sturdy and easy to maintain antenna. This process saves 20-30 man-hours spent to repair each aircraft with the old antenna.

“I got here as a new troop, and we were working on these antennas all the time,” said Sergeant Wilson. “I found out there was a different type of antenna and researched it.”