JOINT BASE CHARLESTON, S.C. - –
Air Force officials released the winners of the 2014 Air Mobility Command Safety Awards Dec. 2, 2014, and Joint Base Charleston had three Airmen recognized for their accomplishments.
Master Sgt. Justin Taylor, 628th Air Base Wing Safety Office, was nominated for the Air Force Chief of Safety Outstanding Achievement Award for Weapons Safety. Capt. Ashish Patel, 14th Airlift Squadron was nominated for the Koren Kolligian, Jr. Trophy and Leanne Gelwicks, 437th Operations Support Squadron, was awarded the AMC Outstanding Safety Civilian of the Year Award (Additional Duty).
"It is an honor to be nominated," said Taylor. "In fact, I view it as a win for the safety office. We have all worked very hard to develop the best safety program possible. It feels great to have our work recognized."
According to Taylor, the safety program is one of the most important pieces to any organization and is geared towards protecting people and resources.
"Many of our safety standards were written in blood, meaning something went horribly wrong, and guidance was developed to prevent the incident from ever happening again," Taylor said. "Ultimately, it is everyone's responsibility to ensure their environment is safe and having a safety program helps to make that happen."
Gelwicks is responsible for the 437th OSS Ground Safety Program which encompasses production, process, facility, explosive and motorcycle safety.
"Safety must be a proactive program," Gelwicks said. "If you wait to react to a problem, it could be too late. The safety team members keep us in compliance, but all Airmen must be involved in safety culture to have a successful program.
"That is why all awards are really team efforts. I would like to thank the commanders for their guidance, the flight safety reps for their collaboration, and 437th Aircrew Flight Equipment leadership for their support."
See below for the complete list of winners:
2014 AF Annual Award Nomination:
Koren Kolligian, Jr. Trophy:
Capt. Ashish Patel, 14th AS, Joint Base Charleston, S.C.
Air Force Chief of Safety Special Achievement Award:
Technical Sgt. Garrit Vermeer, 375th AMW, Scott Air Force Base. Ill.
Safety Career Professional of the Year Award:
Technical Sgt. Scott Richard, 721th AMXS, 521st AMOW, Ramstein Air Base, Germany
Air Force Nuclear Surety Outstanding Achievement Award:
Thomas Thompson, 62nd AW, Joint Base Lewis - McChord, Wash.
Air Force Chief of Safety Outstanding Achievement Award for Weapons Safety:
Master Sgt. Justin Taylor, 628th ABW, Joint Base Charleston, S.C.
Air Force Chief of Safety Outstanding Achievement - Ground Cat II:
436th AW, Dover AFB, Del.
Air Force Chief of Safety Outstanding Achievement - Ground Cat III:
6th AMW, MacDill AFB, Fla.
Air Force Chief of Safety Outstanding Achievement - Ground Cat IV:
62nd AW, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash.
Air Force Chief of Safety Outstanding Achievement - Ground Cat V:
730th AMS, Yokota, Air Base, Japan
Air Force Chief of Safety Aircrew of Distinction Award:
Crew of MAFFS 3, 153rd Operations Group, Cheyenne, Wyo.
Air Force Chief of Safety Aviation Maintenance Safety Award:
C-21 Maintenance Team, 375th AMW, Scott AFB, Ill.
AERO Club Safety Certificate:
436th AW Dover AFB, Del.
2014 AMC Annual Award Winners:
Flight Safety
AMC Director of Safety Aircrew of Distinction Award:
Crew of MAFFS 3, 153rd OG, Cheyenne, Wyo.
AMC Aviation Maintenance Safety Award:
C-21 Maintenance Team, 375th OG, 375 AMW, Scott AFB, Ill.
AMC Safety Officer of the Year Award:
Captain Andrew Olson, 350th ARS, 22nd ARW, McConnell AFB, Ks.
AMC Flight Safety NCO of the Year Award:
Technical Sgt. Garrit Vermeer, 375th AMW, Scott AFB, Ill.
Ground Safety:
AMC Distinguished Ground Safety Award (Large/Composite Wing):
436th AW, Dover AFB, Del.
AMC Distinguished Ground Safety Award (Small Wing):
6th AMW, MacDill AFB, Fla.
AMC Distinguished Ground Safety Award (Associate/Tenant Organization):
62nd AW, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash.
AMC Distinguished Ground Safety Award (Geographically Separated Unit):
515th AMOW, 730th AMS, Yokota AB, Japan
AMC Ground Safety NCO of the Year Award (Primary):
Technical Sgt. Scott Richard, 721st AMXS, 521st AMOW, Ramstein AB, Germany
AMC Ground Safety NCO of the Year Award (Additional Duty):
Master Sgt. Michael Pfefferkorn, 436th APS, 436th AW Dover AFB, Del.
Weapons Safety:
AMC Explosives Safety Individual of the Year Award:
Master Sgt. Lincoln Williams, 62nd AW, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash.
AMC Nuclear Surety Individual of the Year Award:
Thomas Thompson, 62nd AW, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash.
Other
AMC Risk Management Achievement Award:
436th OSS, 436th AW, Dover AFB, Del.
AMC Outstanding Safety Civilian of the Year Award (Primary):
Kenneth Heath, 62nd AW, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash.
AMC Outstanding Safety Civilian of the Year Award (Additional Duty):
Leanne Gelwicks, 437th OSS, 437th AW, Joint Base Charleston, S.C.
AMC Safety Office of the Year Award:
436th AW, Dover AFB, Del.
AMC Safety Special Achievement Award:
Technical Sgt. Garrit Vermeer, 375th AMW, Scott AFB, Ill.