72nd ABW commander honors two with Wildcatter Awards Published Jan. 18, 2011 By 72nd ABW Tinker AFB, Okla. -- Col. Bob LaBrutta, 72nd Air Base Wing commander, recently honored two wing members with Wildcatter Awards. Jim Ruth, 72nd ABW Plans and Programs, has been the installation treaties manager/arms control officer, historical property custodian and contingency plans manager since 2006. His duties require very diverse skills and abilities, and he has consistently delivered outstanding results in his projects. He recently revitalized the Chemical Weapons Convention Challenge Inspection program at Tinker, hosting a Department of Defense/Air Force-level table top exercise that was praised by attendees as the "best seen to date." This exercise resulted in improved readiness levels for both Tinker personnel and personnel from across the Air Force identified as members of the Air Force Base Assistance Team. Also, all nine historical aircraft in the Maj. Charles B. Hall Memorial Airpark were showing signs of years of neglect when Mr. Ruth took over responsibility for the program. His efforts resulted in a contract to wash and provide minor maintenance on all of them, and three of the seven assigned to the 72nd ABW historical property account were re-painted. Additionally, his coordination with the 507th Air Refueling Wing resulted in the award of a contract option, using a contract vehicle, to paint the two assigned to them. Mr. Ruth also works to ensure the airpark is accessible to the public, grounds maintenance is performed, and that the airpark conveys pride in the Air Force heritage at all times -- a function that was sorely lacking before his stewardship. Due to his efforts, the base now has a phased approach to ensuring costly maintenance is performed in the most efficient manner possible. Furthermore, Mr. Ruth also serves on the staff of the Crisis Action Team, and has expertly performed these duties during multiple real-world and exercise events. He schedules and trains CAT staff personnel from outside organizations and assists with maintenance and management of both the primary and alternate facility. He also serves as the XP Safety manager, ADPE custodian and training manager. When the office was required to relocate, Mr. Ruth developed the plan, designed the new office space and then implemented a self-help project to ensure the space was functional with minimal expense. Mark Sprayberry, 72nd ABW Safety Office, has performed his duties as Traffic Safety and Employee Safety training manager since March 2010. He has re-energized the Traffic Safety program with his in-depth knowledge of four-wheel vehicle safety, providing local conditions training for new military and civilian employees, as well as intermediate and advanced traffic safety classes for military personnel. Mr. Sprayberry is qualified to coach all motorcycle courses currently offered on base, teaching more than 200 students in 2010. To assist the Navy presence on Tinker in meeting their mandatory Sportbike training requirements Mr. Sprayberry became the first Air Force Materiel Command asset to reach Military Sportbike RiderCoach status. Since becoming an MSRC, he has trained more than 70 sportbike riders affecting the lives of many more, as those riders become more safety aware they encourage their friends and family to do the same. Mr. Sprayberry also brings his unique education and training development skills to many other safety-training classes provided by the 72nd ABW Safety Office. He was instrumental in developing the administratively focused OSHA 10-hour course and provided the course to more than 120 students last year. In addition, he participated in the updates of both the Supervisor Safety Training course and the Unit Safety Representative course, to ensure the provision of relevant safety information to the respective audiences. Mr. Sprayberry is a highly motivated instructor with the ability to engage his audience, provide information that is useful and relevant, and answer all questions. Mr. Sprayberry exhibits a go-getter attitude and no matter the obstacle manages to get the job done seemingly effortlessly. He most recently demonstrated this skill by ensuring visual reminders of the hazards of motor vehicle operation while fatigued were strategically placed for all Tinker personnel to view during the final week of the 2010 101 Critical Days of Summer campaign. From securing appropriate vehicles, obtaining sufficient trailers, arranging appropriate locations with Environmental Management, picking up and locating the vehicles, designing and installing signage and returning the vehicles, he worked tirelessly to ensure that all employees received reminders of the need to have sufficient rest as they embarked on the last road trip of summer.