Air Force Office of Scientific Research announces quarterly award winners

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  • Air Force Office of Scientific Research
ARLINGTON, Va. --  The Air Force Office of Scientific Research honored 22 individuals and team members with quarterly and individual awards during its recent commander's call here.

Maj. Joshua W. Meyer, AFOSR's executive officer, was selected as the Field Grade Officer of the Quarter. AFOSR officials said Meyer has been pivotal in efforts to help the organization operate more efficiently and in preparing for a Unit Compliance Inspection. During this time, he re-energized the role of the AFOSR training officer and assumed the responsibility as the unit deployment monitor. Additionally, Meyer devoted numerous hours to reinvigorating AFOSR's military personnel programs which will create opportunities for AFOSR personnel to attain future recognition and promotion.

Capt. Sidney T. Loney Sr, deputy chief, plans and budget was honored with the Company Grade Officer of the Quarter Award for demonstrated versatility in accomplishing AFOSR's mission and increasing its visibility. He currently monitors AFOSR's budget execution valued at more than $400 million ensuring all funds are obligated on time. Additionally he successfully ensured all FY05 funds were accounted for during the Air Force Research Laboratory-mandated end-of-year close-out exercise.

Steven Cyrus, an information technology expert at the European Office of Aerospace Research and Development, London, England, received the Civilian Administrator of the Quarter Award. He serves as the focal point for computer and telecommunications interoperability from the London office to the United States. Among accomplishments he carried on work for a major computer purchase which will enable EOARD to move personal computers to laptops with docking stations. The effort concluded a rather lengthy process involving coordination with the Navy, which runs the network, and British contractors, who run the servers.

John Sanderson, team lead, specialized acquisitions division, AFOSR Contracting Office, received the Civilian Professional of the Quarter Award. He has provided lead expertise for the consolidated AFOSR services competition responsible for combining six on-going contracts valued at over $28 million. Additionally he spearheaded the implementation of the quality assurance program which will ensure AFOSR receives contractor performance support per contract requirements. Sanderson also supported the command-wide effort to reduce overall contractor services support resulting in cost savings to the Air Force. Additionally, he mentored several contract specialist trainees as well as program managers on contracting matters and program management issues.

Etsuko Hiwatashi received the Director's Award. She has been working for the Asian Office of Aerospace Research and Development, Tokyo, Japan, since 1994. Her current duties focus on conference support, newsletter production, Automated Business Services System monitoring, and office timekeeper. Hiwatashi solely created new forms and processes in ABSS to improve contractual grants processing. Although grants had never been used at AOARD, she took the initiative to make the process possible and effectively streamlined the transition from previously used contracts to grants. By making it possible for AOARD to issue grants, AOARD is now able to process the contractors' agreements in half the time.

The AFOSR finance, contracting, and networks and logistics teams received the Team of the Quarter Award. The team members are Patricia A. Bell, Carm B. Calvert, Phillip F. Cherbaka, Rickey R. Christie, Darnelle D. Domineck, Valarie I. Hall, Sharon D. Hart, Rickey N. Lawrence, Danielle P. Lindsey, Eileen G. Parks, Kathryn P. Pheulpin, John Sanderson, 1st Lt. Adrian Stavish, Joseph Truncale, Fran Washington, and Kathy M. Wetherell. During this past quarter, the team had three major successes. First, the team implemented the Job Order Cost Accounting System - JOCAS - which allows AFOSR to track and collect reimbursements. As a result, AFOSR met AFRL JOCAS requirements. Second, the team's foundational work helped the organization prepare for recent unit compliance inspections. Third, the team's skillfully and superbly led the organization's entire fiscal year closeout.

Dr. Van Blackwood, deputy chief, external programs and resources interface, received the Air Force Exemplary Civilian Service Award. Blackwood was recognized for distinguished performance in his previous position as chief of plans and budgets at AFOSR. During that time, Blackwood was hand-picked to develop new program planning processes to integrate new Air Force Research Laboratory core process initiatives into the AFOSR planning process. His work resulted in the one-time development of AFOSR inputs to the fiscal year 2008 Program Objective Memorandum, ensuring research programs continued on budget and on time.

AFOSR awarded the Air Force Civilian Achievement Award to Dr. Julie J. Moses in recognition for her distinguished performance as a senior physical scientist in the chief scientist's office at AFOSR. Between February and August 2006, Moses worked with AFOSR's chief scientist to draft the Discovery Challenge themes - the basic research portion of the focused long-term challenges. AFOSR officials said her organizational networking, interpersonal, and leadership skills were invaluable in this effort.