HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, MASS. -- Airmen from the 66th Medical Squadron here earned command level annual awards for work in three categories, following a year of major crisis response, and providing deployment readiness services to regional forces.
Maj. Edward Walters, Aerospace and Operational Medicine flight commander, picked up Field Grade Officer of the Year, while Maj. John Doleski, Family Advocacy element chief, won Company Grade Officer of the Year, having served as a Captain during the award period. In the group category, the business operations and beneficiary services flight won Health Plan Management Team of the Year. All three winners go on to compete at the Air Force level.
“It is with great pride that we celebrate the success of these Hanscom Team members," said Col. Russell Pinard, 66th Medical Squadron commander. "I'm happy to see that the MAJCOM board members recognize the outstanding work of these individuals and teams that I am able to witness every day.”
Doleski orchestrated an educational opioid abuse conference, certifying approximately 100 personnel to use the overdose treatment NARCAN, enabling Hanscom first responders to administer the drug and combat the opioid overdose epidemic. Doleski worked with 66th Security Forces Squadron to certify the first law enforcement Airmen in the Air Force to carry the drug. He also led a program to educate new parents on the risks of shaken baby syndrome, ensuring Hanscom was an early adopter of a prevention program.
Medical squadron leadership recognized Walters for his work safeguarding information of Airmen and patients, as well as enabling his section to provide pre-deployment exams to 160 Marines of the 25th Marine Regiment, Fort Devens, Massachusetts. The Marines deployed to Honduras in support of U.S. Southern Command. Walters also identified and halted negative health impacts to 174 base personnel following an indoor air quality issue.
In the team category, the health plan management team responded to workload volumes during a six-month period of reduced staffing, pulling together to process 16,000 referrals. Increased patient information protection techniques helped avert 90 breaches and allowed the squadron to respond safely to 1,600 record requests.