Air Force 2010 Best Antiterrorism Program Manager is D-M’s own Ron Hoover

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Jake Richmond
  • 355th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
DAVIS-MONTHAN AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  The Air Force recently announced that Ronald Hoover, 355th Fighter Wing Antiterrorism Officer, is the 2010 Best Antiterrorism Program Manager. He will go on to represent the Air Force in the 2010 Department of Defense Antiterrorism awards program.

Active since 1998, Mr. Hoover is the most senior installation ATO in all of Air Combat Command. He was also recognized for excellence last year, chosen best in ACC and becoming a finalist at the Air Force level.

"What sets us apart at D-M are the outstanding past and present senior leaders who are very proactive and supportive of the antiterrorism program, combined with unprecedented working relationships with the (Air Force Office of Special Investigations), security forces, intel, civil engineers and our civilian counterparts in the community," Mr. Hoover said. "I have been assigned to the higher headquarters staff a couple of times, as well as on the inspector general team, and I've seen firsthand how much is totally different here at D-M, compared to most other installations. We're fortunate."

Some of Mr. Hoover's recent accomplishments in support of D-M's antiterrorism and force protection missions are:

· Secured approximately 30 percent of AT funding for ACC; $3 million-plus led the command
· Six-plus miles of perimeter, including high-speed approaches, now protected with heavy-duty fence cable
· Created first Intel Fusion Cell at the installation level in ACC; 1,400-square foot space synergized key players in AT picture
· First and only base in ACC to have all gates unite overhead signals with active barriers
· Incorporated crash-rated fencing for all new critical base facilities
· Benchmarked AT processes for first civilian charter school ever on a military installation
· Used natural features, bollards, cables and chains for standoff, protecting 80 percent of facilities
· Created emergency response plan for in-place barriers; hundreds of barriers pre-positioned for immediate action
· Obtained and implemented thermal camera capability for complete airfield surveillance

Mr. Hoover said he is honored by the award but motivated by the mission.

"The recognition is great, but it's really just a bonus," he said. "If we're doing something well down here and we get an award, that basically means two things for me. One, we're probably keeping our people safer. And, two, maybe some other bases can see some of the things we're doing that work well and use them to keep their people safer, too. That's what this job is all about."

According to the Air Force and Mr. Hoover's own unit-level leaders, he's doing that job at a very high level.

"He epitomizes service before self," said Lt. Col. Edward Sommers, 355th FW director of staff, in the official letter submitting Mr. Hoover for the award. "I have no doubt that the men and women of D-M live and work in a secure environment due to his AT/FP expertise and superior management abilities."