Teams from Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, and Robins AFB, Georgia, are recipients of the 2022 Secretary of Defense Environmental Awards, April 22, 2022.
Since 1962, installations across the Department of Defense have been recognized for their outstanding accomplishments in innovative and cost-effective environmental management strategies that successfully support mission readiness.
"Projecting air and space power around the globe requires the Department of the Air Force to remain good stewards of the natural resources we depend on to build and sustain the combat capabilities our nation needs," said Edwin Oshiba, acting assistant secretary of the Air Force for Energy, Installations, and Environment.
The Department of the Air Force winners are:
2022 Environmental Quality, Non-Industrial Installation: Shaw AFB
The base installed a supervisory controls and data acquisition system to continuously monitor production and treatment from six drinking water wells that serve 10,000 Airmen, dependents, civilians, and contractors.
2022 Environmental Quality, Individual or Team: Air Force Radioactive and Recycling Disposal Team, Wright-Patterson AFB
The team provided 215 man-days of support for radioactive material management and disposal actions at numerous U.S. Air Force installations in the continental United States. They delivered a multitude of services that minimized contract costs by $1.2 million and resulted in over 123,000 pounds of low-level radioactive waste disposed and 65,000 radioactive material items recycled.
2022 Environmental Excellence in Weapon Systems Acquisition, Individual or Team: C-130 Program Office and Support Team, Robins AFB
The C-130 Team's six-year project to evaluate non-chromate corrosion inhibiting sealants resulted in the implementation of three alternatives. This significantly reduces worker exposure to a harmful carcinogen, eliminates 13,500 pounds of chromate waste annually, and saves $253,024 per year for the C-130 production line alone.
"We're proud of the accomplishments exemplified by our three Secretary of Defense Environmental award winners, but know they represent a much larger team of Total Force Airmen and Guardians dedicated to preserving the environment in which we operate each and every day," Oshiba said.
