Chief's Choice/552nd ACW members win awards Published Feb. 12, 2016 By 72nd Air Base Wing Public Affairs TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- The Tinker Chief's Group recently recognized two Tinker Airmen with Chief's Choice awards. Senior Airman Michael D. Mueller, an air traffic controller with the 72nd Operations Support Squadron, issued more than 6,000 control instructions and movement messages across four operating positions to aircraft in support of four major commands and the United States Navy in Oklahoma's only 24/7 facility. He contributed to the safe flow of 32,000 air traffic operations within Tinker's airspace by ensuring well-ordered air traffic separation and sequencing. Additionally, Airman Mueller accomplishes many squadron duties and is the alternate Self-Aid and Buddy Care unit monitor and instructor. He maintains training equipment valued at $2,000 while training and scheduling Tier 2A courses for 48 unit members, ensuring pre-deployment require-ments are met. He also represented the OSS as a UCC representative, where he initiated multiple telephone recalls in support of two War Wagon exercises and provided the 72nd ABW with accountability data for 87 personnel. Senior Airman Ryan M. Vandenbush, also an air traffic controller with the 72nd OSS, issues control instructions and movement messages across four operating positions to aircraft in support of four MAJCOMs. He is responsible for the safe flow of air traffic operations within Tinker's 5 nautical mile surface area. Additionally, Airman Vandenbush was instrumental in Tinker Tower receiving a perfect 100 percent compliance rating during the recent Unit Effectiveness Inspection by updating and loading more than 130 vital checklists into the tower Airfield Automation System. Lastly, he has mastered 12 credit hours toward his Air Traffic Operations & Management CCAF degree resulting in a 90 percent completion with a phenomenal 4.0 GPA. 552nd ACW members win awards Two members of 552nd Air Control Wing recently won aircrew flight equipment awards. Capt. Amanda Murphy, an aircrew flight equipment officer with the 552nd Operations Support Squadron, has been named the Air Force's Aircrew Flight Equipment Officer of the Year. Master Sergeant Adam Parnell, also an AFE with the 552nd Operations Support Squadron, was named the Air Combat Command enlisted AFE of the Year. Captain Murphy and Sergeant Parnell led 38 Airmen in five shops supporting the largest flying wing in the Air Combat Command, safeguarding 1,400 aircrew and 27 aircraft valued at $8.9 billion, and provided Command and Control Intel Surveillance Reconnaissance for 223,000 combat ground forces. Among their many accomplishments, the captain and sergeant built the first wing fabrication shop, supervised a $368,000 work area to inspect and maintain 1,200 equipment items, saving $350,000 a year. They aced a supply audit accounting for 5,900 deployed equipment items with zero errors -- Air Force inspector lauded "best seen in Wing." Two individuals from the 552nd ACW also won awards for safety. Wing Chief of Safety of the Year is Lt. Col. Jamey Frazier, 552nd ACW Staff, and the Crew Chief Safety Outstanding Achievement Award goes to Senior Airman Mario Marchetti, 552nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron. "It is truly a tremendous accomplishment to win at the MAJCOM level and we have two winners in the 552nd," said Col. David Gaedecke, 552nd ACW commander. "These highly competitive awards recognize the exceptional accomplishments of our Air Force Safety personnel -- well done!"