For 64 years, the Department of War Environmental Awards have recognized military members and civilians for contributions protecting natural and cultural resources, safeguarding human health and preserving the environment.
In the 2026 DoW Environmental Awards, the Department of the Air Force earned top honors in four categories highlighting its commitment to environmental stewardship strengthening mission readiness and improving the quality of life for Airmen, Guardians and their families and the communities that host DAF installations.
A panel of judges from federal and state agencies, academia and the private sector evaluated nominations and selected the winners. Nancy Balkus, the deputy assistant secretary of the Air Force for infrastructure, energy, and environment, expressed pride in the department's exceptional success rate, noting that winning four awards out of the DAF's seven nomination submittals-from a total of eight DoW environmental award categories-underscores a deep commitment to environmental stewardship as a core component of mission readiness represented the DAF in the awards.
" These awards acknowledge our deep commitment to preserving the environment we rely on to test and train while simultaneously sharpening our competitive edge," Balkus said. "Our installations prove that environmental stewardship and operational readiness are not mutually exclusive. By pioneering next-generation conservation and cleanup initiatives, we protect our natural resources and build the resilient bases required to project power globally."
The DAF environmental award winners are:
Natural Resources Conservation, Small Installation: Hanscom Air Force Base, Massachusetts
Hanscom Air Force Base won the natural resources conservation award after launching a 2024 plan that grew program funding by 1,200%. The team also established a new ecological baseline confirming eight bat species, which cleared 30 acres for development and cut project timelines by up to 18 months.
Environmental Quality, Non-Industrial Installation: Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson Air Force Base, Alaska
Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson won the non-industrial environmental quality award for supporting cold-weather training. The team achieved a 97% waste diversion rate and resolved 13 water violations without fines, protecting a $404 million runway project.
Environmental Restoration, Installation: Beale Air Force Base, California
Beale Air Force Base won the environmental restoration award for addressing historical contamination while protecting local wetlands. By writing technical reports in-house to save $1.8 million, they successfully returned 700 acres of critical land to active use two years early.
Environmental Restoration, Individual/ Team: Shannon McMillan, Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas
Shannon McMillan won the individual environmental restoration award for installing 24 residential water systems, saving the Air Force $750,000 in liability. She also led an $11.2 million pump-and-treat system that protected the drinking water of 3,000 citizens.
