Center's top civilian earns Presidential Rank Award

  • Published
  • By Chuck Paone
  • ESC Public Affairs
HANSCOM AFB, MASS. (April 26, 2007) - --  Electronic Systems Center Executive Director Fran Duntz received the President's Rank Award April 20 during a ceremony held at the Women in Military Service for America Memorial at Arlington National Cemetery. Secretary of the Air Force Michael Wynne and Air Force Vice Chief of Staff Gen. John Corley conveyed the prestigious award to Mrs. Duntz, who was one of a select group of Senior Executive Service members recognized this year for their exceptional, long-term accomplishments.

"Mrs. Duntz is a senior leader with a laser-like focus on the priorities of this center and our command, as well as of the U.S. Air Force and Department of Defense," said ESC Commander Lt. Gen. Chuck Johnson. "I'm exceptionally proud of her and am very happy that she received the high level of recognition she richly deserves."

Mrs. Duntz was commended for broad-based acquisition and logistics experience at the field and major command levels. This experience has "given her a perspective that brings many senior Air Force leaders to her door," stated the award citation. She set the command's acquisition strategies to focus on speed and credibility, developed a culture that allows for joint processes and products, and allows the command to respond rapidly to Global War on Terror requests, it stated.

At ESC, she has led rapid acquisitions to support Combatant Commanders' urgent requests. As the champion of Balanced Score Card performance measurement and National Security Personnel System for the center, she has worked to shape the workforce to support an ever-agile warfighter.

"Her leadership and vision have led Air Force acquisition to the next stage of rapid capabilities response," according to the citation. She was also cited for numerous other efforts, including her work to shape planning and programming, requirements development, and acquisition at both major command and field levels in support of Air Force and DoD "emerging operational constructs."

"Her big picture perspective focused Air Force Materiel Command's leadership and participation in meeting the needs of the Capability Review and Risk Assessment, the linchpin process in realizing the Air Force Chief of Staff's new vision," the citation read.

"Today's award winners embody the service and excellence called for in our Air Force core values," said Secretary of the Air Force Michael Wynne. "They have not only shown their characters by choosing to serve their country, but have risen to such great heights that they are being recognized with awards from President George W. Bush."

A career civil servant, Mrs. Duntz has served in a variety of program management, strategic planning and senior leadership positions since entering federal service in 1977. She became a member of the Senior Executive Service in February 2000.

As executive director and Deputy for Acquisition at ESC, she is the senior civilian responsible to the commander of an organization composed of more than 10,000 military, civil service and contract support personnel, and an annual budget exceeding $4 billion.

Mrs. Duntz earned a bachelor of arts degree in psychology and English from the University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia, and a master's in business administration from Wright State University. She is also a graduate of Air Command and Staff College, the Defense Systems Management College, Air War College, the Executive Management Program at Pennsylvania State University, the Senior Leadership Orientation Course, the Federal Executive Institute, and the Program for Senior Managers in Government at the John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University.



CONTACT: Chuck Paone, (781) 377-5078, charles.paone@hanscom.af.mil