306th Operations Support Squadron at Air Force Academy grabs top honor from Air Education and Training Command

Story and photo by Jennifer Spradlin, Dec. 10, 2018

U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. — The nine-person airfield management crew responsible for the Air Force Academy airfield and the Academy Bullseye Auxiliary Airfield near Ellicott, Colorado, was recognized by Air Education and Training Command with the Ronald B. McCarthy Airfield Management Facility of the Year Award.

This year, the 306th Operations Support Squadron airfield management oversaw a $2 million runway construction project without incident and on schedule. The crew worked closely with the 10th Civil Engineering Squadron to accomplish the preliminary work, saving more than $70,000.

Some additional accomplishments include acquiring a high tech BASH system to protect aircraft from bird strikes and spearheading a five-year-plan for more than $10 million in future airfield improvement and sustainment projects.

“The relationships that we have with the support agencies is really important to our success,” said Don Alexander, airfield manager. “We accept this award on behalf of the 10th Civil Engineering Squadron, 10th Contracting Squadron, and the Natural Resources Office. Together we ensure a safe, effective and efficient environment for all of the flying operations.”

There are more than 250,000 annual sorties between the two airfields and six active runways.

According to Col. Joel DeBoer, 306th Flying Training Group commander, the 306th OSS is crucial to the Airmanship program and training the next generation of Air Force pilots.

“Their dedication and hard work, largely behind the scenes and often overlooked, clearly enables everything we do. This well-deserved award highlights to the U.S. Air Force Academy, Air Education and Training Command, and the Air Force, their excellence in all they do,” DeBoer said.