Hanscom shines by winning AF, command level awards Published March 13, 2013 By Mark Wyatt 66th Air Base Group Public Affairs HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. -- Add three more awards to the many already won by the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center - Hanscom and the 66th Air Base Group over the past few months. The 66th Security Forces Squadron was awarded the Air Force Outstanding Security Forces Small Unit award. The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center Weather Systems Branch was recently awarded with the Outstanding Specialized Weather Support Unit of the Year. Lastly, Kevin Krieger, 66th Logistics Readiness Squadron support agreement manager, was awarded the Air Force Materiel Command Logistics Plans Civilian of the Year. 66th Security Forces Squadron During 2012, the unit deployed 38 percent of its personnel to overseas locations. Their many accomplishments included protecting and evacuating personnel during an indirect fire attack and aircraft crash, with their actions saving 33 lives. Personnel also provided security for 400 aircraft during 91,000 sorties and safeguarded $50 billion worth of NATO assets. The squadron kept busy locally by sponsoring the Hanscom Air Force Base Kids' Day where they created and distributed 113 Missing and Exploited Child Identification Kits, investing almost $4,000 in the security of base families. They also collected 6,000 pounds of food for Feds Feed Families and coordinated two Drug Enforcement Administration drug take back events that resulted in 64 pounds of narcotics being destroyed. "The men and women of the 66 SFS individually are simply amazing in everything they do and, collectively as a team, they are truly outstanding," said Lt. Col. Derrick Weyand, 66 SFS commander. "They have all worked hard and sacrificed to be the best in AFMC. I am proud serve along such great people every day at Hanscom Air Force Base." AFLCMC Weather Programs Branch The mission of the Weather Programs Branch is to acquire and field terrestrial weather systems, rapidly delivering decision quality environmental information for the Air Force and Army operations worldwide. The 50-person branch manages five programs and two integration projects which provide weather sensing, data-basing, analysis, forecasting and dissemination capabilities. Over the last year, the branch fielded 20 portable Doppler radars, 50 airfield fixed-base weather sensor suites and an enterprise-level data store and dissemination system upgrade. The branch completed the first seven regional forecast center hardware and software upgrades, as well as three major software upgrades to an existing baseline at more than 150 sites. Kevin Krieger Kevin Krieger is single-handedly responsible for managing support agreements for Hanscom and the entire Northeast. He initiated a full review on 17 overdue support agreements and memorandum of agreements in 2012 that resulted in uninterrupted support in each case. Krieger facilitated negotiations with the Massachusetts National Guard Joint Force Headquarters and its 400 personnel assigned to Hanscom Air Force Base. He also facilitated a $200 million agreement supporting the Space Fence system in Kwajalein Atoll, Republic of Marshall Islands, which tracks objects entering the earth's atmosphere. Additionally, he was instrumental in identifying the base's economic impact on Massachusetts and assisted in the potential bed down of three Air National Guard combat communication units. "Kevin is a true professional with a Midas-touch in handling all base support agreements and memorandums of understanding," said Jim Taggart, 66th Logistics Readiness Squadron director. "His meticulous attention to detail and persistence in pursuing all agencies' coordination and rapport is phenomenal. Kevin's handling of agreements not only encompasses Hanscom Air Force Base, but touches the entire New England area and New York along with numerous other country wide GSUs (geographically separated units). He truly serves Hanscom, AFLCMC, AFMC and the Air Force with a serious focus and an unmatched pride."