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Tinkers 327th ACSG, AFMC honored at national AFA conference

  • Published
  • By Michelle Eviston
  • Air Force Materiel Command Public Affairs
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AFB, Ohio, --  Air Force Association officials presented awards to six individuals and one team from Air Force Materiel Command during AFA's 24th Annual Air and Space Conference and Technology Exposition. One individual and one team from Tinker were honored. The conference took place Sept. 15-17 in Washington, D.C.

Lt. Col. Donald Lytle, of the 327th Aircraft Sustainment Group, was awarded in the middle division of Management and Environmental Achievement.

A Tinker AFB team was also honored for its work with alternative fuels. AFA awarded the 327th Aircraft Sustainment Group a Citation of Honor to recognize the team's work with the B-52 Stratofortress Fischer-Tropsch fuel program. AFA Citations of Honor are given to individuals or teams that make outstanding contributions to the "development of aerospace power for the betterment of mankind."

"It's because of their hard work of the people in the 327th that the B-52H will continue to set the standard in reliability and excellence for the next 30 years," said Colonel Lytle.

AFMC stood out in other ways at the conference. The commander of AFMC, Gen. Bruce Carlson was awarded the H. H. Arnold award. The award recognizes the person or group with the most significant contribution to national defense. Named after the founding father of the Air Force, the award represents the values and contributions of Gen. Henry Herald "Hap" Arnold. It's the most prestigious of the National Aerospace Awards the AFA gives out.

General Carlson joins a list of H.H. Arnold award winners that includes former President Ronald Reagan, former members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and many former Air Force Chiefs of Staff. General Carlson is the second AFMC commander to receive the award. Former AFMC commander and now retired Gen. Gregory S. "Speedy" Martin received the award in 2005.

Three AFMC individuals received awards in the Management and Environmental Achievement category. These awards represent outstanding civilian and military contributions to three levels of management while assigned at AFMC. Kay Lee of Wright-Patterson AFB won in the executive division; Colonel Lytle, took honors in the middle division; and the junior division award winner was Capt. Joshua McAllister, also at Wright-Patterson AFB.

AFA selected Debra Fogle, from Kirtland AFB, N.M., to receive its Civilian Program Manager of the Year award. The association's civilian employee awards recognize achievements by Air Force civilian employees.

The association also recognized the 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year for 2008, which included AFMC's Tech. Sgt. Tammy Shaw from Wright-Patterson AFB.

AFA's annual Air and Space Conference and Technology Exposition focuses on the aerospace community. This year's guests included the acting Secretary of the Air Force and the Air Force Chief of Staff.