Wright-Patt civilian wins 2016 Air Force Association General Edwin W. Rawlings Management Level Award

  • Published
  • By Laura McGowan
  • 88th Air Base Wing Public Affairs

WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio – Michael Vaughn, an 88th Air Base Wing civil engineer employee, was recently awarded the 2016 Air Force Association General Edwin W. Rawlings Management Level Award.

This award recognizes Vaughn’s outstanding achievements in the field of environmental conservation within the United States.

 

Vaughn is from Bellbrook, Ohio, and said he wanted to be an environmental scientist from his sophomore year in high school.

 

“I went from Wright State University to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base,” said Vaughn. “I’ve been an environmental scientist my entire Air Force civilian career.”

 

“The environmental management career field supports the Air Force mission by ensuring compliance with all environmental laws,” said Vaughn. “[Ensuring] a safe and healthy environment is protected and maintained.”

 

Vaughn’s supervisor described him as an outstanding team-player who is always willing to help others and lead with diligence.

 

“He coordinated 500-plus site specific spill plans with a team, protecting 600 facilities with a hazmat management process and led a 17-member Environmental Spill Response Team, providing coverage for 8,145 acres resulting in a 100 percent regulatory compliance,” said Zachary Olds, Civil Engineer Group, Installation Management Division, Environmental Branch.

 

“Vaughn facilitated a Wright-Patt job shadow program and mentored 35 high school students, grooming the next generation of environmental professionals,” he said.

He is also very motivated to encourage young students to likewise go into an environmental career field, and does so through the job shadow program on base.

 

“I absolutely encourage young people to go into environmental management,” he said. “It is a necessary career field to ensure a safe and sustainable environment for generations to come, and it is a field that is continuing to grow as a profession.”

 

 “He is a community leader who provided environmental outreach to more than 1K students, and he was the 30th selection EVER to the Bellbrook Sugarcreek Hall of Fame,” said Olds.

In addition to those honors and accolades, Vaughn finds time to mentor as an assistant scout master, organizing 10 successful scouting events, teaching future environmental leaders.