HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. – Air Force Materiel Command officials announced this week that the 66th Air Base Group Legal Office captured a team and two individual command-level awards, including Outstanding Legal Office of the Year for 2020.
Col. Mark McKiernan, 66 ABG staff judge advocate, said his unit’s win is a reflection of its resiliency, adaptability and professionalism.
“We really have the highest caliber of teammates here,” said McKiernan. “Meeting new challenges with solutions is what we do every day in the Legal office, and we applied the same mindset to the challenges of COVID-19.”
McKiernan said the Hanscom legal team was instrumental to the Department of Health and Human Services Acquisition COVID-19 Task Force, directly supporting the president’s national COVID response plan.
James O. Wrightson, Jr. Award
Rachel D’Orazio, 66 JA contract advisor attorney, won the Outstanding Civilian Attorney of the Year award.
D’Orazio specializes in the acquisition contract process for the Command, Control, Communications, Intelligence and Networks Division here, and said she was honored to be named the AFMC winner.
“This past year was very challenging, so it feels wonderful to have my work recognized for this period of time,” she said. “I’m grateful for the professional opportunities I was given in 2020, and for my coworkers who are so knowledgeable.”
D’Orazio was also named the 66th Air Base Group Category 3 Civilian of the Year.
Olan G. Waldrop, Jr. Award
Airman 1st Class Kayla Stevens, 66 JA paralegal, was named the command’s 2020 Unsung Hero.
“Airman Stevens is off to a great start in her career,” said McKiernan. “She is enthusiastic, always willing to volunteer, and always goes above and beyond what’s asked of her.”
D’Orazio, Stevens and the Hanscom Legal Office will go on to compete at the Air Force-level.