Safety triumphs at Air Force-level

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Abigail Klein
  • 22nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. --  Driven only by the desire to keep McConnell Airmen unharmed, the 22nd Air Refueling Wing Safety officer trumped the competition, receiving three Air Force-level awards for 2010.

The awards recognize "the best of the best" Air Force Safety offices and are given annually. The awards board considers special accomplishments in all areas of mishap prevention, such as a unit or person who helped develop
programs or concepts that significantly improve Air Force safety programs

"We credit our success to the great support we received form the commander, Col. Jamie Crowhurst, [22nd ARW commander] and the leadership of Lt. Col. Stan Lawrie, [22nd ARW Safety chief,]" said Donald Maher, 22nd ARW Safety office weapons manager. "Also helping our success was the reinvigoration of the McConnell safety culture through the addition of personnel and reemphasis of standards."

This determination helped the group win three group awards and one individual award for Capt. Colin Henderson, 22nd ARW Wing Flight Safety chief from October 2009 to December 2010, who received the Air Force Chief of Safety Special Achievement award. This award recognizes an individual or organization for outstanding safety contributions or achievements.

"I was happy, but kind of surprised," he said. "I had just left a meeting when I found out. Usually, when [award] packages get submitted, they kind of tend to disappear and you don't think about them until you actually win. It's definitely nice to be recognized at that level."

Captain Henderson credits the awards to the mutual support of the entire the safety office, in particularly, Colonel Lawrie who helped support more than 30 safety programs for 2010.

Among the other achievements McConnell's Safety Office was able to accomplish, both individually and as a group, including an "Excellent" rating for the Flight Safety Office during the 2010 UCI, planning and executing the Bird Air Strike Hazard Landowner Dinner, improving community relations and reduce aircraft bird strikes, and being the first KC-135 wing in Air Mobility Command base to implement an anonymous mishap reporting system.

During 2010 alone the safety office provided Airmen with approximately 30 programs including motorcycle safety, Bird/Wildlife Aircraft Strike Hazard, explosive site planning and much more.

"There is a need for these programs because they help protect the Air Force Airmen, equipment and resources through education," said Mr. Maher.

The programs are part of the plan to help the safety office achieve their next goal of becoming the number one safety office in Air Mobility Command.

"Looking to the future we plan on continuing our proactive work, exceeding the standards and shooting for a zero mishaps environment," said Mr. Maher.