Around Tinker: Directorate announces Employees of the Year Published Feb. 21, 2008 Engineering and Technical Management Directorate TINKER AIR FORCE BASE -- The Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center Engineering and Technical Management Directorate recently named its Employee, Team and Company Grade Officer of the Year. Employee of the Year: Greg Yort from the Workforce Development Branch is a General Engineer who successfully led six higher grade directors and senior engineers on the Engineering Supervisor Working Group, impacting technical issues and careers of over 1,100 scientists and engineers. He developed and executed an action plan, overcame multiple deep-rooted barriers and obtained buy-in from OC-ALC/CC and the OC-ALC Corporate Council. Maj. Gen. Reno recognized his leadership by awarding an on-the-spot OC-ALC/CC coin. Mr. Yort also successfully led four high grade senior engineers on the Career Broadening Working Group. He developed and executed an action plan, developed and documented a process and obtained buy-in from 76th MXW/EN, 327th ASW/EN, 448th CSW/EN and OC-ALC/EN. He kicked-off and successfully executed process to completion, moving 12 employees in three months, then used to lay-out execution of O&M plus-up, moving 10-20 S&Es in only 30 days. He lays crucial foundation for revolutionary program that builds future leaders. Company Grade Officer of the Year: 2nd Lt. Charles Skrovan from the Enterprise Modernization Branch is an Aircraft Battle Damage Repair Engineer who provided in-theater engineering support to deployed aircraft. He was the lead programmer on in-house battle damage repair software development which saved $750K vs. contract solution. Lt. Skrovan was lead ABDR engineer in exercise w/combat logistics squadron who ensured 100 percent preparedness and deployability. He was hand selected for an exercise evaluation team which provided ABDR experience to new engineers readying to deploy. Lt Skrovan is a remarkable programmer! He managed a team of 6 technicians and programmers and ensured technical accuracy and quality of structural reports. His amazing initiative corrected KC-10 structural damage software and ensured SPO was alerted of vital safety inspections. He provided tremendous leadership and drive updating information on 10,000+ flights and over 100 maintenance actions. Team of the Year: The Defense Standardization Program Process Improvement Team is from the Systems Engineering Division and consists of Gary Bittle, Orentha Hudson, William Raphael, Paul Ratke and Monica Seger. Thanks to this team, the DSP at Tinker is on the road to success! After years of neglect, this team has undertaken the challenge to revive the program. They identified and prioritized 18 key processes and developed draft process documents for 15; regular process improvement meetings are now underway and process improvement issues are 100 percent tracked. They implemented a process to track all DSP projects from start to completion; no lost or forgotten projects since implementation. Tracking and metrics are now possible. The team generated 143 requests to OC-ALC Engineering and Drafting offices for review or correction of the Center's specifications and standards, 120 of which have been closed. The team planned and executed a two-week training course for the Center's cognizant engineers concerning various aspects of the Defense Standardization Program.