354th MXS/AGE Team awarded CSAF Team Excellence award

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Rachelle Coleman
  • 354th Firghter Wing Public Affairs
EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska --  The 354th Maintenance Squadron New Aerospace Ground Equipment flight, was awarded the 2008 Chief of Staff Team Excellence Award Sept. 16, 2008, in Washington D.C. by the Chief of Staff himself.

Gen. Norton A. Schwartz awarded teams that used a systematic approach to enhance mission capability, improve operational performance, and create sustained results. The four other teams were from Kirtland AFB, N.M., Langley AFB, Va., Keesler AFB, Miss., and Bolling AFB, Washington D.C.

"It's awesome," said Tech. Sgt. Daniel Taylor, 354th MXS/AGE superintendent, "It was something everyone was a part of; it made the AGE flight proud because it's the first time we've won something like this."

The AGE flight at Eielson reorganized their flight in order to develop a standardized workflow to produce quality results. They were able to raise the mission-capable rate from 83 to 98 percent and attained 100 percent on four separate occasions. Quality also rose with a 100 percent Quality Assurance pass rate for five consecutive months with 28 fewer AGE technicians. By reducing personnel and support equipment they were able to save the Air Force an estimated $1.4 million per year.

"The imbalance between personnel and equipment reductions forced us to look for ways to do more with less in order to survive and ensure mission accomplishment," said Master Sgt. Matthew Hopwood, 354th MXS/AGE flight chief.

The AGE flight reorganized into five cells for scheduled and unscheduled maintenance. The organization also improved training by rotating personnel through each cell, allowing them to broaden their skills and qualifications. The cells are reconstructed after five rotations allowing personnel to work with everyone in the shop.

"It took six months from the very first meeting," said Master Sgt. Hopwood, "but we are continually tweaking the process. In my opinion, developing never ends."

The New Aerospace Ground Equipment Team, 354th MXS, consists of: Mr. David Polly, Mr. Robert Weathers, Mr. Leroy Gross, Mr. David St Laurent, Chief Master Sgt. Daniel Morin, Master Sergeants: Matthew Hopwood, Bret Frank, Scott Mahar, Steven Norton, Joseph Zeigler, Technical Sergeants: Carolyn Norton, Daniel Taylor , Kevin Sellers, Staff Sergeants: Philip Tawney, Nicholas Busch, Wesley Funkhouser, Jennifer Cunningham, Joseph Kerlin, Rachel Crawford, Michael Evans, Jared Priddle, Matthew Duncan, Joseph Orton, Tony Winkler, and Gabriel Hodgson. 

The new process is not mandatory throughout the Air Force yet. 

We're trying to make it Air Force wide, said Master Sgt. Bret Frank, 354th MXS/AGE assistant flight chief. We're starting with PACAF and we'll go from there.

Information in this article was supplied from an article written by Airman 1st Class Christopher Griffin, 354th Fighter Wing Public Affairs