Tinker nominated for AF-level award Published Nov. 6, 2009 By Brandice J. Armstrong Tinker Public Affairs TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- For the second year, Tinker is a nominee for an Air Force-level honor: the 2010 Commander-in-Chief's Installation Excellence award. Tinker is representing Air Force Materiel Command in the competition against other major commands for the second year in a row. A winner is expected to be announced in early February. The CINC Installation Excellence award is presented annually to a base that achieves excellence in its management. Judges will consider environmental stewardship, public safety, energy management, family support and quality of life programs for Airmen. "It is quite an honor for an installation to earn this distinction once; to capture it two years in a row is phenomenal," said Col. Allen Jamerson, 72nd Air Base Wing and installation commander. "It speaks to the total professionalism and mission readiness of all 26,000 personnel who work on Tinker. Every assigned Soldier, Sailor, Airman and civilian played a role in capturing this honor and can be proud of the fact that they live and work on AFMC's premier installation." After nomination packets have been reviewed, Air Force officials will select two finalists. Between late January and early February, an Air Force Installation Excellence Selection Board will visit the finalists and select a winner. In fiscal 2009, Tinker accomplished several feats. This past summer, Tinker leadership celebrated Bldg. 9001's open house, the newest addition to the Tinker Aerospace Complex. Bldg. 9001 is one of six industrial buildings on the former General Motors assembly plant campus. There is nearly 4 million square feet, including an office, of usable space in the complex. By the end of 2009, officials said four operational units will occupy 600,000 square feet in Bldg. 9001, and will house roughly 600 employees. In June, Tinker leadership also broke ground on a new 72nd Medical Group clinic. Across from Gott Gate, between Coddling Road and the Hill Conference Center, the 170,000-square-foot medical facility will provide approximately 500 medical and dental appointments, 1,400 prescriptions, 100 X-rays, 250 laboratory tests and 100 referrals everyday to the 54,000-plus beneficiaries. "Over the next two to three years you'll see a new building spring out of the ground, one that's been in the planning stages for several years," said Col. Robert Marks, 72nd MDG commander, at the ceremony. "It has been conceived for only one reason - to provide medical benefits to the Airmen, Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, Coast Guard members, civilian beneficiaries and their families that so richly deserve that benefit." In 2008, the Air Force selected Balfour Beatty Communities, formerly GMH Military Housing, to oversee the construction of new houses and the renovation of older houses in Tinker's base housing. Balfour Beatty will manage the project for 50 years. When construction is finished, 398 new houses will be built and 262 existing houses will have been updated and renovated. As of July, 31 percent of the new homes were completed and 28 homes are scheduled to be updated and renovated before the end of the year. "Housing privatization is the single biggest program we have to improve the quality of life of our military families," Gene Gallogly, 72nd Air Base Wing Civil Engineer director, has said. "We have an outstanding partnership with the developer and we're off to a great start." Additionally, Tinker is an advocate of the Voluntary Protection Program. Since base safety officials first introduced its principles nearly three years ago, several units have adopted the program and continually improve their work spaces. VPP members brainstorm ideas that will protect personnel, yet still allow them to perform their jobs in an efficient manner. Plans may range from taking an employee's suggestion to fix malfunctioning equipment or finding a better way to complete a task. "VPP is the opportunity for employees to become actively involved in their own safety and health," said Carol Murray, member of the 72nd Air Base Wing VPP Team, who has been involved with the program since December 2007. "Why not practice it at Tinker; we have the opportunity to make a positive change in the culture of the work force, both military and civilian, as well as contractors." Should a medical emergency occur, Tinker leadership has also made sure there are automated external defibrillators on base. Currently, there are approximately 255 AEDs in 74 buildings, and in the past two years, there have been five incidents in which a defibrillator was used. Defibrillation shocks the heart and attempts to correct an irregular heartbeat should an individual suffer a sudden cardiac arrest. While the success rates for an AED are promising if used immediately and correctly, a defibrillator will only send a charge on two kinds of irregular and potentially fatal heartbeats -- ventricular fibrillation or ventricular tachycardia. The machine will not permit a charge for any other kind of heartbeat. As Tinker's leadership continues to strive for excellence, several programs continue to stand out, making the installation worthy of the awards.