355th Civil Engineer Squadron Wins Seven MAJCOM Awards

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. Michael Ryan
  • 355th Civil Engineer Squadron
DAVIS-MONTHAN AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  Spirits were high when the 355 Civil Engineer Squadron recently learned it earned Air Combat Command's Most Outstanding Civil Engineer Large Unit Award for 2009. Additionally, several 355 CES flights and personnel earned six other ACC-level awards. 

Setting the precedence for all 16 bases in ACC, the seven 355 CES winners will represent the command at the next level as they compete for top honors against other major command winners from across the Air Force. 

The Most Outstanding Civil Engineer Unit Award is awarded annually by ACC and focuses on a number of categories. Civil engineer squadrons throughout ACC were graded on their installation support and engineering excellence, expeditionary and emergency services support, unit and community relations, commanders programs, exemplary achievements and awards. 

Four of the seven flights from the 355 CES were also recognized for their hard work. The operations flight earned the Maj. Gen. Clifton D. Wright Award, while the readiness flight was runner-up for the Col. Frederick J. Riemer Award. Also, the housing team trumped the competition by earning the Brig. Gen. Michael A. McAuliffe Award for Housing Excellence. The fire department was also recognized for its fire prevention program of the year. 

Adding to the success, two of their own Airmen lived up to the squadron vision of "Readiness, Safety and Leadership at Every Level" by earning individual awards. Senior Airman Phillip Acord, a power production specialist, received the Maj. Gen. Eugene A. Lupia Award, reserved for the command's outstanding civil engineer airman. Tech. Sgt. Jayme Scammahorn, a CE firefighter, received the Firefighter of the Year Award for Heroism. 

The 355 CES is also a finalist for the 2010 Commander in Chief's Installation Excellence Award for Special Recognition. Competition for these awards takes place across the Air Force. 

"I couldn't be more proud of the squadron," said Lt Col Charles Perham, 355 CES commander, as he announced the results at a recent commander's call. "It's great when hard work gets recognized." As a result of their efforts, winners from the squadron will be traveling to Langley Air Force Base with the 355th CES commander to receive their awards.