Hanscom Personnel win annual AFMC JAG Awards

  • Published
  • By Meredith March
  • 66th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
HANSCOM AFB, Mass. --  Air Force Materiel Command recently announced the winners of its command-level 2007 Judge Advocate General Awards. Top honorees include two members of the Hanscom community, who will now compete for the Air Force-level awards.

2007 Yates-Popwell Award for Outstanding Paralegal Senior Noncommissioned Officer of the Year 

Master Sgt. Cynthia Woodruff, Electronic Systems Center Judge Advocate Office Law Center superintendent, was AFMC's selection for the Outstanding Paralegal Senior Noncommissioned Officer of the Year Award for 2007. 

Sergeant Woodruff was also recently named the 2007 ESC Staff Senior Noncommissioned Officer of the Year. In November 2007, she received the inaugural enlisted ESC Stars and Stripes Leadership Award for her demonstrated leadership excellence, as well as excellence in her career field and community support. She was also recognized as an "Outstanding Performer" during 2007's Headquarters AFMC Operational Readiness Inspection, and contributed to Hanscom's "Excellent" rating. 

Sergeant Woodruff provided support on more than 450 civil law packages in 2007. She also earned a Bachelor of Science degree, coordinated 11 base enlisted promotion ceremonies, organized four chapel dinners and helped manage Heroes' Homecoming events honoring more than 250 servicemembers returning from deployments.

2007 Wrightson Award for Outstanding Civilian Attorney of the Year
Richard C. Bean, ESC JA supervisory attorney, was named AFMC's Outstanding Civilian Attorney of the Year for 2007. 

Mr. Bean, a nationally recognized government contract law expert, successfully defended the Air Force against a series of five Government Accountability Office protests, filed by a leading technological company, regarding a $750 million contract. 

Mr. Bean led and coordinated the four-member defense team, which spent seven days per week for three weeks in a temporary duty location preparing and organizing the AF's defense. Subsequently, they coordinated additional work from four separate locations. 

He sought and won access to crucial records, prepared key witnesses for cross-examinations and worked with an evaluation team to prepare agency reports and secure an AF victory in the case. 

In addition to a busy work schedule, Mr. Bean also mentors junior division attorneys, ensuring excellent legal support for acquisition programs at Hanscom.