513th ACG major is Reserve Command safety award winner Published Feb. 20, 2009 By Staff Sgt. Grady Epperly 513th Air Control Group Public Affairs TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla., -- A 513th Air Control Group Safety Officer was recently presented the Flight Safety Officer of the Year Award (Additional Duty) for Tinker Air Force Base, 10th Air Force and Air Force Reserve Command. The award recognizes outstanding achievements in flight safety between Oct. 1, 2007 and Sept. 30, 2008. Maj. David Cavazos, the AFRC Flight Safety Officer of the Year (Additional Duty), was recognized for his initiatives, which resulted mishap prevention making Tinker AFB a safer place to work. Major Cavazos, who was chief of Safety for the 966th Airborne Air Control Squadron Formal Training Unit for two years, has been chief of Safety for the 513th ACG for seven months where he has continued to make the mantra of "Safety is not an option, it is a necessity" widely known. "The 513th ACG has never had a Class A or B flight mishap since its inception in 1996 and Major Cavazos' persistence and attention to detail only perpetuates our "we care" atmosphere when it comes to safety," said Col. John E. Trnka, 513th ACG commander. "Major Cavazos regularly exceeds Air Force Reserve Command's standards by providing safety training for personnel at each Unit Training Assembly," said Colonel Trnka. "He also served as the 513 ACG's deployed Safety representative during our recent deployment to South America, in which the unit sustained zero mishaps and flew an unprecedented 98.87 percent mission success rate." While providing guidance and safety policy as the unit safety representative for about 390 personnel, he also operated several E-3 Airborne Warning and Control System aircraft, flying 892 hours during 156 sorties in support of homeland defense, presidential and training missions. "This award is not only a result of Major Cavazos' ability to maintain a great working relationship and establish new ones, but his attention to detail", said Lt. Col. Russ Reimer, 970th AACS commander "His diligence is keeping his fellow Airmen safe." "Major Cavazos is a highly visible flight safety officer who has coordinated and led multiple integrated FTU E-3 AWACS Major Accident Response Exercises training over 380 personnel, reformatted and updated the wing mishap response plan and coordinated with wing-wide agencies to ensure accurate and timely response procedures to save lives during aircraft mishaps," added Colonel Reimer. Major Cavazos went on to compete for the Air Force Flight Safety Officer of the Year Award (Additional Duty).