CHARLESTON AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. –
Welcome back Team Charleston! I hope each of you had the opportunity to spend valuable quality time with your families and unwind after a busy and incredibly successful 2006. I know 2007 will bring many of the same challenges of the past year; I also know that you'll more than exceed my expectations and serve with excellence in all you do.
Speaking of excellence, the New Year always brings me joy as my inbox fills with e-mail after e-mail declaring the men and women of Team Charleston as the best of the best! This year is no different!!
Our 437th Civil Engineer Squadron Fire Protection and Environmental Flights were named best in the Air Force while the 437 CES, as a whole, was named the second best small CE unit for the second straight year.
The 437th Arial Port Squadron claimed four out of six Air Mobility Command Logistics Readiness Unit awards with the Fleet Service Flight, Terminal Operations Flight, Freight Flight and Mobility Flight named best in the command.
In the 437th Medical Group, Senior Airman Liana Santana was named the best Airman Pharmacy Technician in AMC and Capt. Jon Ehrenfried garnered the award for top Company Grade Officer Physical Therapist in the command. Gaye Adams was also named best dental civilian in AMC and Capt. Christopher Palumbo won the award for best Young Health Care Administrator for AMC. The Bioenvironmental Engineering Flight won the best-in-AMC award for the third time in four years while Lt. Col. Scott Walter was named Outstanding Field Grade Base Bioenvironmental Engineer for the second consecutive year.
In AMC's Mission Support Award program, the 437th Mission Support Squadron claimed many awards. Maj. Chris Hageman was named top Base-level Senior Personnel manager, Tech. Sgt. Nina Murphy was named top Category III Personnel Technician and Tech. Sgt. Paul Gipson was named top Category I Airman Leadership School Instructor. The ALS also claimed the AMC ALS School Spirit of Excellence Award.
In the Air Force Education and Training Manager competition, the Senior Civilian Base-level Award went to Mark Logan and the Junior Civilian Unit-level Award was claimed by Valerie Singley. Robert Adams won the Manpower and Organization Award for Professional Excellence in the Installation-level Senior Civilian Category and the 437th MSS also garnered the AMC nomination for the Air Force Director of Manpower and Special Recognition Award.
Finally, in the annual Air Mobility Command Financial Management and Comptroller Award competition, Lt. Col. Chuck Shea was named Comptroller of the Year and Capt. Michele Kinlock won the award for top Financial Services Officer. The 437th Comptroller Squadron was named AMC's Comptroller Organization of the Year, the Financial Services Office was the best in the command and the Charleston AFB Defense Travel System Team garnered the Special Acts and Services Award.
This is just the tip of the iceberg ... we'll continue to see the recognition and awards roll in. We all know that we don't do it for the awards ... we do it to deliver freedom and save lives!
Continue to make me proud. Continue to take care of yourselves and each other. Please enjoy the long weekend and be safe; you deserve it. Team Charleston -- One family, one mission, one fight!