ACC wins multiple STEM awards

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Steve Stanley
  • Headquarters Air Combat Command Public Affairs
Langley AFB, Va. --  Air Combat Command Airmen earned 4 of 15 eligible Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) awards, despite representing only three percent of the Air Force's entire STEM career field. Signal jammers, threat warning systems, asset recognition and tracking, and cyber capabilities were all improved through ACC's award-winning innovations.

The Air Force level STEM Awards recognize individual and team achievements in Science and Engineering categories, bringing to light the technical achievements in areas that are critical to the Air Force.

"This is a career event and only happens once in a lifetime to people," said Janet Fender, Air Combat Command Chief Scientist. "Typically these awards only go to people in STEM career fields."

ACC leaders have emphasized the need for innovation in a time of fiscal challenges and an unsure budget climate. ACC's focus on STEM-related career fields is essential to this innovation and adaptation.

Engineering Achievement award winner Maj. Brad Howell, 26th Weapons Squadron, led a new software development that dynamically provides real time telemetry data to Weapons Engagement Zone MQ-1/9 pilot displays. This creative solution is also applicable across the Air Force, on other weapons systems and is currently in use.

These advancements represent a significant leap in accelerating weapon fielding and display improvements across an array of weapons and delivery platforms.

"Knowing that you as a technologist can save lives and directly contribute to the mission is the greatest reward," Fender said.

2014 Air Force Outstanding Scientist/Engineer STEM award winner in the Junior Civilian category, David Barnette, 36th Electronic Weapons Squadron at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, led several electronic countermeasure testing and process improvement techniques for various pod systems, ensuring continued fighter aircraft protection and Air Force access to contested environments.

"I am greatly honored to receive an Air Force level award for the work I've done and for what the teams I've been a part of have accomplished," Barnette said. "Though the award is attached to my name, I feel as though it validates the work of everyone around me who work every day to support the warfighter and develop new capabilities to protect them in the future."

The winner of the Air Force Outstanding Scientist/Engineer Team, the 36th Electronic Weapons Squadron, led several electronic countermeasure testing and process improvement techniques for various pod systems, ensuring continued fighter aircraft protection and AF access to contested environments. The team performed similar advances for the B-1B, B-52 and B-2 bombers, producing innovative solutions and quick turnaround results crucial in supporting our Nation's long range and strategic bombing requirements.

"Knowing the caliber of employees across the entire Air Force, I am absolutely honored to be chosen for this award amongst so many people," Barnette said. "Since there is so much fantastic work being done with new and upcoming programs, it is great for our teams' work on the F-16 and A-10 platforms to be recognized as important and noteworthy to the Air Force community as a whole."

"We don't have the tons and tons of money to be throwing at new capabilities," Fender said. "We have to be using brain power, innovation and in-house people and keep recognizing them as so important."

To pick up a group award, which is traditionally harder to achieve than individual awards, the Tactical Exploitation of National Capabilities team produced new, innovative operational capability that had immediate impact in the field for ACC Airmen and other joint services.

"When you recognize great work and significant accomplishments of people and teams, that recognition will fuel even more amazing accomplishments," said Lt. Gen. Lori Robinson, former vice commander of ACC.

"I just can't help but be impressed when I read what our fellow airmen are doing," Fender said. "That's their mission that's their population, that's what the people do for a living."