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14 rewarded for Cutting Edge work in AFSOC

  • Published
  • By Stuart Camp
  • AFSOC Public Affairs
HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. --  Fourteen individuals received Cutting Edge awards Oct. 20 from Lt. Gen. Brad Heithold, Air Force Special Operations Command commander.

The certificates and awards presented by the commander were recognition for accomplishing command goals and objectives, delivering outstanding customer service, improving the work environment and morale and demonstrating exceptional leadership—all while directly supporting AFSOC.

Three individuals and two teams earned this distinction for their on-the-job accomplishments.

- Capt. Andrew Fingall, financial management directorate, identified bottlenecks and deficiencies with getting a deployed unit the proper requirements process and dedicated funding stream. He created, then delivered, a training plan and process for the deployed unit to execute $541 thousand in fiscal 2015 funding and a projected $1M in 2016 needs.

- Jeff Lowman, deputy director of contracting for Air Force Installation Contracting Agency’s operating location at Hurlburt, advised and assisted AFSOC participate in a $4.5 million, multi-service V-22 independent readiness review. Although he’s not directly assigned to the command, Lowman also helped two wings and AFSOC directorates execute contracts and partnered with operations and communications directorates to source enterprise-wide solutions.

- Sue Nelson, manpower, personnel and services directorate, led the headquarters support of a congressionally-mandated assessment of U.S. Special Operations Command’s Preservation of the Force and Family program. She coordinated and adapted an itinerary for the short-notice assessment team visit, which allowed POTFF providers and senior command leaders to discuss POTFF program impacts on AFSOC forces.

- Elaine Wellem, plans, programs and requirements directorate; Bill Messner, manpower, personnel and services directorate; and Javelga James, communications directorate, were recognized for resolving massive computer outages, chopping productivity. Their administrative permissions and teamwork helped correct a backlog of tickets and returned computers online.

- Lt. Col. Greg Steeger, Phillip Pearson, Wayne Barrett and Brian Trigg, analysis, assessments and lessons learned directorate; Larry Munz, operations directorate; Dennis Williams, headquarters operations center; and Elaine Wellem and Mike Behnke, plans, programs and requirements directorate, improved their work environment and saved $12,500 by creating a single-site for Total Force Initiative workers. They found under-used office space, juggled the move of previous occupants, phone and computer systems and constructed office furniture.

These newest recipients raise the total up to 25 individuals recognized so far this year.

The Cutting Edge award program is an off-shoot of AFSO21. Nominations for a Cutting Edge award can come from anyone, according to Christine Martinez, AFSOC manpower analyst and overseer of this program. Nominations are submitted on the HQ AFSOC Form 37 and approved by the recipient’s director. Specific instructions for this program are available in AFSOC Headquarters Operating Instruction 36-2801.