News

Bioenvironmental Engineers: Keeping Dover Clean

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Samuel Taylor
  • 436th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, DEL. --  You may have seen them around base in their spacesuit-like gear or with their hi-tech detection equipment. If you haven't, you most likely have been effected by their work. Every time you take a breath of clean air or drink uncontaminated water on base, it's a job well done for Dover Air Force Base's bioenvironmental engineers.

Airmen have a busy schedule keeping the base free of harmful bacteria, chemicals and radiation.

"Our mission includes keeping work areas free of occupational health hazards and keeping the base safe from homeland security threats," said Master Sgt. Michael Lusignan, 436th Aerospace Medical Squadron noncommissioned officer in charge of bioenvironmental engineering.

Their arsenal against bioenvironmental threats includes the Level-A suit, or 'spacesuit' to the rest of us, the Hazardous Air Pollutants on Site (HAPSITE), which analyzes particles in the air, the Surveillance and Measurement System 935 (SAM 935) radiation detector and the hazardous material identifier (HazMat ID), which can identify the chemical makeup of unknown substances.

"It's all about protecting the health of the Airmen on base," said Sgt. Lusignan. "Missions don't get done without them, and they can't work without us."