AFLCMC brings 'home' six Air Force acquisition awards

  • Published
  • By Brian Brackens
  • 88th Air Base Wing Public Affairs

WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio -- Airmen from the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center were recently recognized with six of the prestigious Acquisition Excellence and Leadership awards for fiscal year 2015, in an announcement by Darlene Costello, the Air Force Service Acquisition Executive. 

 

The highly competitive awards recognize individuals and organizations that have exhibited excellence in managing and implementing Air Force acquisition programs.

 

“These awards highlight the level of commitment our people have in acquiring and supporting war-winning capabilities,” Lt. Gen. John Thompson, AFLCMC commander said. “It’s always humbling for me to be surrounded each day by so many ‘All-Stars’ … life cycle leaders who make a difference every single time they ‘step on the field.’ They continue to impress by how they always deliver for the warfighter while respecting taxpayer dollars.”

 

The John J. Welch Jr., Excellence in Acquisition Leadership Award went to the Fighters and Bombers Directorate’s F-15 Electronic Warfare Branch Contract Award Team for numerous accomplishments including rapidly acquiring the $6 billion F-15C/E electronic warfare self-protection system for more than 400 F-15 aircraft. In addition, the team developed a process to provide oversight to a contractor-led major source selection which saved an estimated one year of schedule and $75 million.

 

David McCain, a program manager with Agile Combat Support Directorate received the Outstanding Air Force Program Manager Award (ACAT II or equivalent) (Civilian) for his leadership in the development, production, testing and fielding of more than 900 sniper and laser infrared targeting and navigation targeting pods. In addition, he revised the delivery schedule for 31 pods saving $1.2 million in sustainment costs.

 

Maj. Alison Anders, a program manager with the Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance and Special Operations Forces Directorate received the Outstanding Air Force Program Manager Award (ACAT III or equivalent) (Military) for providing critical wide-area airborne surveillance to U.S. Central Command Operations for two daily combat air patrols that flew more than 10,000 combat hours with a 94 percent mission effective rate. In addition, she assisted Air Combat Command in increasing the command’s wide-area motion imagery collection capacity by 33 percent.

 

The Outstanding Air Force Acquisition Manager Award (0-4 or O-5) went to Lt. Col. Christopher Kadala with the Battle Management Directorate. Kadala was recognized for a variety of accomplishments including his leadership in advancing Air Force ground surveillance and battle management command and control capabilities. He directed the one Air Force Acquisition Master List program and four Air National Guard-funded initiatives valued at more than $200 million. In addition, he managed a $350 million a year sustainment budget that kept 17 high demand E-8 aircraft involved in seven major operations.

 

Karl Chavous, a lead flight test manager in the Miniature Munitions Division, received the Outstanding Air Force Acquisition Manager Award for GS-12’s and below. Chavous led a team of engineers in nine small high-visibility test missions, including an adverse weather attack on a moving target – which was a Department of Defense first.

 

The Outstanding Air Force Acquisition Staff Office (Civilian) went to Clifton Harness Jr., a program manager in the Acquisition Support Division for his accomplishments including serving as a key advisor and driver of a joint Special Operations Command quick reaction acquisition program where he closed a contract gap by enabling the approval of a $12.5 million bridge contract.

 

AFLCMC is charged with the life cycle management of Air Force weapons systems from their inception to retirement. The center’s portfolio includes Information Technology systems and networks, Command, Control, Communications, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance systems, armaments, strategic systems, aerial platforms, and various specialized or supporting systems such as simulators. AFLCMC also executes sales of aircraft and other defense-related equipment while building security assistance relationships with foreign partner nation air forces.