Name: Rick Dupuis

Unit and Duty Title: Digital Directorate Systems Engineer

Hometown: Somersworth, New Hampshire

Why I Serve? I have a proud family tradition of serving in the U.S. armed forces. This tradition of military service runs from my grandfather to my six uncles, my dad, my brother and myself.

Best Air Force memory: My best memory was of flying the first combat mission of OPERATION Desert Storm (1991). I remember feeling great pride in our military and a sense of accomplishment for completing a mission we were trained to do.

Supervisor Comments: Rick is the tip of the spear when it comes to our mission to upgrade a large swath of communication systems on the Airborne Warning and Control System aircraft fleet at Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma.

Acting as our “forward troubleshooter,” Rick is a highly-skilled engineer who liaises in-person with the 552d Air Control Wing on behalf of Communications Network Upgrade. He monitors Boeing as they install the equipment and deconflicts all install issues or concerns in real time, thereby preventing a delay in the install schedule.

His efforts have resulted in an astounding zero defects/foreign object debris free status for 18 aircraft and ensured modification completion in 40 percent less time than the standard timeline. Rick is the embodiment of Warhawk of the Week, every week. (Shane A. Boulware)