76th PMXG officer named PACAF CGO of the Year

Published Aug. 20, 2013
By Mike W. Ray
Tinker Public Affairs

TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- The "2012 Pacific Air Forces Company Grade Officer of the Year" award was presented recently to a lieutenant who's now assigned to the 548th Propulsion Maintenance Squadron at Tinker AFB.

1st Lt. Pelenato Tagoai, deputy flight chief for Welding Flight, received a special plaque from Brig. Gen. Gene Kirkland, commander of the Oklahoma City Air Logistics Complex, during a brief ceremony Aug. 8.

"This is a tremendous accomplishment," the general told the lieutenant. "We're proud to have you in the OC-ALC, and we expect much from you in the 76th Propulsion Maintenance Group."

Lieutenant Tagoai was honored for his work while assigned to the 718th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron at Kadena Air Base on Okinawa, Japan. He was the officer in charge of the 33rd Helicopter Maintenance Unit, which had 170 maintainers and 10 Sikorsky HH-60G rescue helicopters. "It's the only combat search-and-rescue unit in PACAF," he said.

Some of his achievements while at Kadena:

· As a second lieutenant, he led two deployments to Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. While deployed to BAF, "We maintained three HH-60 rescue helicopters with a 95 percent Mission Capable Rate," which directly contributed to saving the lives of 23 International Security Assistance Forces.

· The lieutenant supported the ISAF by enlisting 15 Air Force personnel who provided 320 hours of English instruction to 46 Afghan teenagers, and by coordinating "Operation Smiles," which collected a thousand toys for Afghan children.

· When an HH-60 was stranded at Forward Operating Base Joyce in Afghanistan, the lieutenant led a maintenance recovery team from Bagram to FOB Joyce to help repair the broken chopper. "In less than an hour, the helo was back on alert to support casualty evacuation missions."

· Responding to a rocket attack, Lieutenant Tagoai's maintenance team identified and repaired battle damage to two helicopters, restoring combat search-and-rescue capability in less than an hour.

· The lieutenant helped plan and led a deployment to the Philippines last year in support of Exercise Balikataan. He ensured that four helicopters, 80 personnel, and a $2 million supply kit deployed to the Philippines without any major issues. For his efforts, Lieutenant Tagoai was coined by the 13th Air Force commander.

· Lieutenant Tagoai revamped the HH-60 airlift requirement, devised a C-17 load plan to add 15 seats, and saved the 18th Wing $65,000 in annual transportation costs.

"If I have seen farther, it was only by standing on the shoulders of giants," Lieutenant Tagoai said. "A huge 'thank you' to my commanders, and to the men and women of the 33rd Helicopter Maintenance Unit and 33rd Rescue Squadron in Kadena AB. This award would not have been possible without their support, dedication and commitment."