GK member’s rewarding surprise

Published Dec. 19, 2011
By Brandice J. O'Brien
Tinker Public Affairs

TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- He walked to the back of Bldg. 3001's Anaconda conference room the morning of Dec. 8 in the new blazer and slacks he purchased for the occasion. Richard Diamond was to brief the Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center Commander, Maj. Gen. Bruce Litchfield, on the

B-1 Lancer, or so he thought. Standing next to the general, he waited for his cue; subconsciously, his leg shook.

But Mr. Diamond didn't ever deliver his briefing. Instead, General Litchfield asked his executive to take Mr. Diamond's 2-inch thick booklet of notes organized by large black binder clips. He then presented Mr. Diamond with an Air Force level award.

"There are some 600,000 folks who work in our Air Force and to be recognized at that level is an absolutely spectacular accomplishment," said General Litchfield. "I think that reflects not only you and what you do for us at Tinker and for the B-1 weapon system, but it also represents an outstanding team that surrounds you. What a great accomplishment."

Mr. Diamond won the Calendar Year 2010 Air Force Electronic Warfare Intermediate Civilian -- Level II -- award for expertly managing electronic warfare systems, software upgrades, and modification projects worth $300 million for the
B-1.

Mr. Diamond, a B-1 Electronic Warfare Systems equipment specialist for the OC-ALC Aerospace Sustainment Directorate's B-1 Sustainment Division, also validated more than 7,000 pages of new technical data and gave valuable information to technicians in the area of responsibility, which led to more than 1,400 combat sorties.

"I would never have guessed that I would actually win an award at this level and the ceremony really caught me off guard," Mr. Diamond said. "However, it seems very real. The B-1 electronic warfare community works extremely hard, and this award recognizes that. Also, I had to spend $150 on a new jacket and slacks, so that makes it real as well."
Mr. Diamond said after the ceremony, he called his wife and mother and also told several co-workers and friends about the surprise ceremony.