Commander's Wildcatter Awards presented

Published Jan. 11, 2008
By 72nd Air Base Wing

TINKER AIR FORCE BASE -- Col. Mark Correll, 72nd Air Base Wing commander, recently awarded wing members with the Commander's Wildcatter Award.
   Maj. Gil Baker was awarded the Wildcatter Award for his work as the director of operations for the 72nd Operations Support Squadron. Maj. Baker is a superb commander, who brilliantly mastered three Higher Headquarter inspections in one week, the tower scored 95 percent; weather scored 98 percent leading to an overall "Excellent" during the 72nd ABW Unit Compliance Inspection. He instituted personnel changes in Air Force's largest HARM office that kept productivity on track and ensured high morale. Last winter he directed ice removal during worst storm in 25 years, which ensured unhampered Noble Eagle alert commitments.
   Major Baker revamped Tinker's departure routings, dramatically increasing flight safety; it was a monumental effort in cooperation with Fort Worth Center. He also took the helm as Star Spangled Salute air operations director with 14 air acts and 22 static displays with over 135,000 people attending.
   During his time as the director of Operations for the 72nd OSS, he won the D. Ray Hardin Air Training Command award for No. 1 Control Tower in Air Force Materiel Command and the No. 1 Base Operations in the same year. He led UCI prep in combined unit with outstanding results; zero "Does Not Comply" items. It was the best UCI rating in Air Combat Command since 2000.
   Glen Larson was awarded the Wildcatter Award for his work as assistant day shift supervisor for the 72nd OSS. Mr. Larson works for Transient Alert which supports more than 2,000 transient aircraft each year. TA at Tinker is well known across the Air Force and Department of Defense for being extremely quick and thorough at their job. Aircrew consistently state that Tinker is their "stopover of choice" due to the great support from Tinker Transient Alert.
   He is also the lead person supporting the 200 plus distinguished visitors that stop at Tinker.
   Mr. Larson has received countless accolades from general officers and civilian equivalents transiting Tinker. His years of experience with TA along with his past military experience make Mr. Larson the obvious choice to make that great "Tinker first impression."
   Transient crews consistently state that they appreciate his "can do" attitude and willingness to support their requirements regardless of the weather, time of day or aircraft type.