72 ABW CE Directorate programs, people grab four AFMC awards Published Nov. 12, 2009 By Brandice J. Armstrong Tinker Public Affairs TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- The 72nd ABW Civil Engineer Directorate recently won four Air Force Materiel Command-level awards. Three AFMC Headquarters awards commended the directorate for their teamwork and include the Gen. Thomas D. White Natural Resources Conservation Award for a small base; the Maj. Gen. Del. R. Eulberg Asset Management Award; and the Design and Construction Citation Award for Concept and Design. The fourth award, the Society of American Military Engineers' Newman Medal, honored William Ward. The 72nd CE Directorate will now compete with other major command winners for Air Force level honors. "The team worked very hard to support all our customers at Tinker, and it's great to see that work and expertise recognized by these awards," said Gene Gallogly, 72nd CE director. 72nd CE personnel have garnered recognition in the natural resources conservation arena, which earned them the General White award. Among them is protecting the Texas horned lizards. In 2003, Tinker biologists, primarily in collaboration with Oklahoma State University, started studying the small reptile with horns on its flat head and toad-like shape in an effort to lessen the likelihood of the state or federal government from listing it as a threatened or endangered species. Prior to the study, few facts were known about the lizard, but experts said there was a decrease in the population in Oklahoma, and Texas listed the species as threatened. Today, there is a closed season, which means the state prohibits any form of harassment, hunting or capturing the lizard, according to the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. "Our mission is not just to find lizards but to better understand them in their natural environment, empowering us to avoid, minimize or provide mitigation, which might include relocating lizards if needed for the mission," said Raymond W. Moody, natural resources biologist at Tinker. 72nd CE personnel have also taken an active interest in improving the landscaping and grounds management and made an effort to establish native plants. Since 2003, 11 acres of turf-grass have been replaced with native prairie grass, which ultimately reduced the cost of mowing by $5,000 annually. Additionally, the 72nd CE Directorate recycled more than 9-million pounds of cardboard, white paper, metal and mixed paper, which produced a surplus of $500,000 in disposal savings. That initiative plus a partnership with the Tinker Fire Department, in which fire officials use Sparky's House, a condemned 1,100-square-foot ranch at 5357 Chidlaw Ave., in base housing to educate children about fire dangers, contributed to the civil engineering directorate earning the Maj. Gen. Eulberg Award, named for the Air Force civil engineer. Tinker also won a citation award for concept design for its efforts toward Bldg. 3907, a fuel overhaul, repair and test facility. Expected to be completed by March and costing approximately $32 million, Bldg. 3907 will support the test and calibration of fuel system components including fuel controls, pumps and actuators for aircraft airframes and engines. Built by Benham Constructors, the two-story facility will measure 140,000 square feet. "This project will maximize our efficiencies to improve our cost and delivery performance of Air Force fuel accessories and other components," Michael Wenzel, 76th Commodities Mainten-ance Group deputy director, has said of the project. William Ward, 72nd CE Engineering and Programming Branch chief, was also honored with the SAME Newman Medal. Selected as the AFMC winner, Mr. Ward will represent AFMC in the national competition, later this year. "It is a great honor to be selected as the AFMC winner of this award," Mr. Ward said. "Our engineering and construction accomplishments here at Tinker are due to the hard work of the rest of the 72nd CE Engineering and Programming Branch, the 72nd Contracting Squadron, the Army Corps of Engineers, our base contractor and many others. I help direct the orchestra, but the team truly makes it happen." To be considered for the award, Mr. Ward had to make an outstanding contribution to military engineering through design, construction, administration, research or development. Instead he contributed to every category. Mr. Ward responded to tornado and wind damage to three of Tinker's large industrial facilities and the airfield's approach lighting. With his team, he designed recovery repairs, petitioned AFMC Headquarters for funds and was awarded $14 million in less than 60 days. Mr. Ward was also responsible for $282 million in construction dollars at the peak of fiscal 2009. He made customer requirements a priority and led efforts to fix energy waste in Tinker's industrial processes and facilities.