News

AMXS members win Leo Marquez Awards

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Shen-Chia Chu
  • 436th AW Public Affairs
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. --  Two Team Dover maintainers are among the best in the Air Force, as they were named winners of the Lt. Gen. Leo Marquez Award for 2007.

Air Force officials named Greg Long, 436th Maintenance Squadron, the aircraft maintenance civilian manager of 2007, and Raymond Smith, 436th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, the aircraft maintenance civilian technician of 2007.

Mr. Smith served 24 years as an active-duty Airman at Dover Air Force Base, and since retiring, has been an Air Force civilian for two years.

"I am honored to have been selected," said Mr. Smith. "It is an awesome opportunity to represent the base, the maintainers, and to be recognized for the hard work and accomplishments."

Mr. Smith took the initiative to make several changes and supplements for aircraft technical orders equating to 17,000 pages, reducing quality assurance findings to zero write-ups. He has also renumbered current aircraft libraries for better accountability, and even used Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st century principles in time and cost saving initiatives, saving nearly 2,500 man-hours per year to better streamline processes for maintenance.

Tech Sgt. Jamal Richardson, 436th AMXS support operations manager, said he has witnessed Mr. Smith's dedication to the squadron, the base, and the nation's warfighting mission by working with him firsthand.

"Mr. Smith is a one of the most productive members of our flight line maintenance team," said Sergeant Richardson. "He's a consummate professional, leading the way in ensuring accurate technical data on the aircraft as well as contributing to an increase in aircraft parts availability."

Mr. Smith added he felt winning this award was not just his individual accomplishment.

"I feel that I was selected to represent all in the Maintenance Group," he said. "This award was won through a group effort, by the accomplishments of all the outstanding commanders, supervisors and maintainers that accomplish the mission each and every day."

Mr. Long also was an active-duty Airman, serving four years with another 22 years under his belt as an Air Reserve Technician, and as a civilian for eight years at Dover AFB.

Mr. Long also agreed that winning the award was through a group effort.

"This award is not about me, but about all of us as a group in aircraft maintenance," said Mr. Long. "All of us care about what we do and work very hard every day to accomplish our jobs and responsibilities - so the award is about us at Dover."

Though Mr. Long humbly accepts his award as a group effort, he is credited with leadership skills that have helped the 436th MXS fabrication flight to complete 5,800 structural repairs on 25 C5-B aircraft during regularly scheduled isochronal inspections.

Included in his accomplishments, Mr. Long led the charge to improve repair procedures for aircraft engine cowl doors. He set in motion a series of efforts to establish repair capability on Dover AFB, resulting in 32 doors repaired, saving the Air Force 2.2 million.

Senior Master Sgt. Earon Bolton, 436th MXS fabrication flight chief, said he works on a daily basis with Mr. Long and can see why he won the award.

"Mr. Long is an outstanding member of our team. He won the award through selfless acts and determination to do his best everyday," said Sergeant Bolton. "He deserves the award based upon the effort and dedication he puts forth toward all endeavors."

The Team Dover members will receive the Lt. Gen. Leo Marquez Award for 2007 plaques at the 2007 Maintenance Awards Banquet scheduled for May 1 at the Bolling Club at Bolling AFB, District of Columbia.