FSS lands four AFMC awards for outstanding performance

  • Published
  • By Capt. Geoff Buteau
  • 66th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
The 66th Force Support Squadron recently received word from Air Force Materiel Command Manpower and Personnel community that three individuals and one organization received Major Command-level Force Support Squadron awards.

The awards, given annually, went to one individual each from Hanscom Lodging, Library, and the Aero Club, while the 66 FSS Resource Management Program received an award for the best of its type for the year.

"Even though we had to prepare for the merger," said Carolyn McCafferty, operations officer for the 66 FSS, "including transformations in leadership, locales, personnel and financial procedures, they still kept focused on the mission and did a great job to come to the top."

Kevin Geaney, guest services manager at Hanscom Lodging, received the award for Sustainment Services Flight Specialist of the Year. This year, with the leadership of Mr. Geaney, the lodging facility has upgraded their key-card system and started cross-marketing with the Minuteman Club, according to the award package. Mr. Geaney also housed the District of Washington Ceremonial Guard servicemembers during the funeral services of the late Sen. Ted Kennedy on short notice.

"That was so huge; they actually had to relocate existing guests to downtown lodging to make room for the 80-person Kennedy team; the lodging personnel did what we would have to do if we were at a forward base under a contingency situation," said Ms. McCafferty. "It was great to see them get the mission done."

The 66 FSS's library had an award as well. Evelyn Peabody, the senior library technician there, won Force Development Flight Specialist of the Year honors. Her work filling more than 300 customer requests using the Inter-Library-Loan Network brought media to people that wouldn't normally have access to it. She also organized summer reading programs that saw higher than usual participation, partially because of her use of social media to stay in contact with younger readers.

The work of the staff at the Aero Club -- doing everything from hosting Hanscom events to servicing a fleet of 12 planes, ground schools and flying programs -- received recognition through Steven Bates, the Hanscom Aero Club manager. He is the Community Services Flight Manager of the Year. In addition to these programs and services, he added children's attractions including model planes and World War II static displays to the Aero Club open house, making it the most successful one to date, said Ms. McCafferty.

"Not only did the Aero Club receive a 5-star safety rating, but when Air Force Services Agency representatives and AFMC aero club experts came to the facility, they just found our safety program to be phenomenal, and called it a benchmark for the Air Force," said Ms. McCafferty.

As an organization, the 66 FSS's Resource Management Program, which is made up of the non-appropriated funds accounting office, the appropriated funds resource advisor, the information technology office, and logistics section, won best in its competition group.

One notable accomplishment was the Resource Management Team's ability to drive the migration from a 30-year old Disk Operation System (DOS)-based accounting system to an updated centralized Web-based system. "This was a monumental effort that was briefed by the AFSA representative as one of the smoothest NAF transformations in the Air Force," said Ms. McCafferty.

Another big change that the Resource Management Program excelled at was preparing for the merger of the old mission support and services squadrons, which required the fusing of accounts that supported many diverse missions. "This new appropriated fund program represents the broad mission of our new squadron," said Ms. McCafferty. "Because of their early preparation, we had a seamless transition and rolled into the fiscal year all in lockstep, which was really great," said Ms. McCafferty.

"Despite having to navigate so much change this year," Ms. McCafferty said, "the 66 FSS was able to perform at such a high level, and we're happy the MAJCOM recognized us for it."

The four winners will soon compete at the Air Force level.