Center’s executive director wins presidential award Published May 7, 2010 By Brandice J. Armstrong Tinker Public Affairs TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- John Over, Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center executive director, recently won the Meritorious Executive Presidential Rank Award. But, he attributes his success to Team Tinker. The prestigious award is an annual honor presented by the president to a career Senior Executive Service member for "sustained extraordinary accomplishment." It is the second highest SES annual award, only behind Distinguished Executive Presidential Rank Award, and is presented to a mere 5 percent of SES members in a given year. "The recognition is quite humbling because the award is simply a reflection of the great people at Tinker doing exceptional things," Mr. Over said. "Team Tinker has many outstanding accomplishments and I am very fortunate to have been associated with its talented and dedicated members." Mr. Over, an SES member since July 2003 and OC-ALC executive director since July 2007, is credited with leading several unprecedented initiatives at Tinker. They include the first Department of Defense repair station certified by the Federal Aviation Administration, the strategic metals recycling program and turbine engine life management planning and component improvement investment process. Awarded in January 2008, the 76th Maintenance Wing received the first-ever FAA repair station certification for the KC-10 Extender paint workload. Prior to the certification, work on the KC-10 had been contracted to a non-military entity. The Strategic Material Recovery and Reuse Program de-manufactures and disassembles condemned jet engine parts. The parts are melted into their original alloy materials and reconfigured into new jet engine parts. The process is estimated to save Oklahoma City more than $2 million each year in acquisition costs and already, more than 150,000 pounds of material has been introduced into the program since its August 2008 inception. Prior to the turbine engine life management program, processes varied for more than 15 different types of engines and the $150 million annual engine budget was allocated based on the prior years' funding. There was little regard for relative priorities and other engine needs. Mr. Over worked with OC-ALC program managers, engineers, logisticians and led a team to develop a standardized plan format. "The Presidential Rank Award is a well deserved recognition of Mr. Over's many, long-lasting accomplishments," said Maj. Gen. David Gillett, OC-ALC commander. "Through dedication and exceptional leadership, he has fostered teamwork and a focus on the mission. Simply put, he exemplifies Air Force core values. I am personally proud to serve with him."