Tinker employees win command-level awards Published Sept. 11, 2012 Tinker Public Affairs TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- Outstanding scientists, engineers, technicians and technical managers from Tinker competed for the Air Force Material Command annual Science, Engineering and Technical Management Awards. These awards recognize exemplary contributions and dedication to the SETM community. Tinker nominees were named winners in four of the 21 categories. Award winners are: Technical Management Award -- Benny Reeves is a production management specialist in the Aerospace Sustainment Directorate. Mr. Reeves displayed exceptional insight, intuition and leadership ability in the technical management of an $800 million annual depot maintenance program, supporting more than 400 KC-135 aircraft at four sources of repair. He was instrumental in successfully transferring nine aircraft from contractor to organic maintenance with no delays to schedule, and his technical processs were key in a record-breaking level of production, with 91 aircraft through depot. Gen. James Ferguson Engineering Award -- Natalie Thomas, a general engineer in GK, provided outstanding engineering support and leadership to the 509th Bomb Wing, the B-2 System Sustainment Manager, and the B-2 System Program Manager. Her proactive actions worked to return aircraft to flight status by engineering solutions, lowered operating costs by fielding better materials, and supported the warfighter by offering engineering support at a moment's notice. Gen. Lester L. Lyles Award -- Ashley Desmond, a general engineer in the Engineering and Technical Management Directorate, served as a leading advocate of developing scientist and engineering capability in support of the warfighter. She led the way in recruiting, retaining, developing and managing a diverse workforce of scientists and engineers across multiple disciplines, workloads and work environments. General Bernard Randolph Engineering Team Award -- The B-1B High Velocity Maintenance Team applied the use of strategic, operational and tactical lean concepts to implement time-saving measures to reduce program depot maintenance time by an average of 43 days per aircraft for fiscal year 2011. They also implemented repair prototypes and repair kits that will further reduce the planned repair time. Their actions reduced the overall number of aircraft in depot status and resulted in critically needed flying assets being returned to the warfighter. Team members are Stephen Walker, Marta Conant, Brock Carter, James Pearl, James Trammell, Angie Ceyler, Clay Jordan, Eric Bartlow, Jerome Hoegger, Josh Rooker, Donita Baptiste and Carl Hill.