CHARLESTON AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. –
A 437th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron Operations officer was awarded the General Lew Allen, Jr. trophy July 31 at Charleston AFB.
Maj. Mike Dailey, 437 AMXS operations officer was recently named Air Mobility Command's General Lew Allen, Jr. trophy winner and will compete this fall at the Air Force competition. The General Lew Allen, Jr. trophy recognizes the most outstanding base-level officer and senior non-commissioned officer directly involved in aircraft sortie generation based on sustained job performance, job knowledge, job efficiency and results.
Major Dailey, a San Diego, Calif., native who enjoys motor sports and reading about architecture in his free time, enlisted in the Air Force in 1991 as a B-52G aircraft crew chief. He was later commissioned in 1997 through the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps with his bachelors degree in aeronautical science. Later he also received a masters degree in aeronautical science.
"I would like to thank my wife, Klaudia and my son Sebastian, for their continued support during my time in the Air Force," said Major Dailey.
Major Dailey was nominated for the award by his commander while he was the 437th MXS maintenance operations officer. He was pleased to have been selected for the award and is excited about representing Team Charleston and Air Mobility Command.
One accomplishment that helped earn the award included enabling a record year for the 437th Airlift Wing by supporting and generating 17,895 missions, 40 percent of which were in direct support of Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom. He also supported Team Charleston's world-record 20-ship C-17 formation.
After winning the award at the level for AMC, Major Dailey will be going up against other officers in other commands throughout the Air Force.
"His unselfish commitment to duty and exceptional accomplishments ensured the successful support of global reach and provided unparalleled air mobility support for America," said Maj. Gen. Robert McMahon, AMC director of logistics at Scott AFB, Ill. "His job knowledge and decisive maintenance actions directly contributed to the overall success of Charleston AFB, Air Mobility Command and the Air Force. I congratulate Major Dailey and wish him the best in the Air Force-wide competition."
Major Dailey said he was grateful to have received the award, but insisted there were three important components that earned the accolade. He first pointed to all of Charleston's dedicated, hard-working maintenance professionals.
"I really consider the General Lew Allen, Jr. trophy to be a team award" said Major Dailey. "I'm humbled at the opportunities I've had to lead such outstanding maintenance people in both the maintenance squadron and aircraft maintenance squadron. Charleston's mission simply would not happen without our remarkable active and reservist, our civilian mechanics and maintenance managers across the 437th and 315th Maintenance Groups. The 'port dawgs' we work alongside from the 437th Aerial Port Squadron are as equally impressive."
Secondly, Major Dailey cited Charleston's busy mission in support of the Global War on Terrorism as a significant factor in earning the award.
"We're helping take the fight to the enemy every day," said Major Dailey. "We're AMC's number one choice for strategic airlift for Operations Enduring and Iraqi Freedom and the numbers show it."
Thirdly, he said he believes it's the determination, motivation and attitude of the aircraft maintenance community that make Team Charleston special, and that earns awards.
"Mechanics here care about what they're doing, providing safe mission-ready aircraft for the war-fighter," said Major Dailey. "I'm proud to be a teammate in AMC's premier airlift wing."