Date: September 19, 2010
115th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
The Madison-based 115th Fighter Wing of the Wisconsin Air National Guard continues to earn honors for excellence in safety practices. During a Sept. 19 ceremony at the unit's Truax Field base, the 115th Fighter Wing earned the Air National Guard's John J. Pesch Flight Safety Award, the wing's safety office won the Safety Office of the Year Award, and that office's noncommissioned officer in charge, Senior Master Sgt. Thomas Egstad, was named Air National Guard Safety Professional of the Year.
All three awards were based on performance during the 2009 calendar year.
The Pesch Award recognizes more than 60,000 accident-free flying hours over the past 14 years, nearly 500 combat sorties in 2009 flown without mishap by the fighter wing's F-16 and RC-26 aircraft, and a nearly flawless performance in a NORAD Alert Forces Evaluation. The award also noted that the 115th Fighter Wing was the only Air National Guard unit to simultaneously support deployed combat operations and homeland air sovereignty missions while undergoing numerous inspections and evaluations.
The wing safety office earned its recognition in large part by leading the effort to make the 115th Fighter Wing only the second Air National Guard unit to earn OSHA's coveted "Star" rating for its Voluntary Protection Program in 2009.
"This process really made us focus on the finest details - far above and beyond the regulatory requirements," Egstad said. "The people who really made this happen were our unit safety representatives. We in this office set the goals and provided guidance, but the USRs in the field really did the leg work. The integrity, accountability and professionalism of everyone on base paid off huge."
Lt. Col. Chad Milne, 115th Fighter Wing safety chief, said the Pesch Trophy is about more than just safe flying - it includes safe maintenance practices and awareness by all those involved in any part of aircraft operations.
"Our excellent showing in the Alert Forces Evaluation was in large part due to the ground operations, not just the flying portion," Milne said.
National Guard Bureau Chief Gen. Craig McKinley challenged the entire National Guard to pursue that Voluntary Protection Program Star rating, and 115th Fighter Wing commander Brig. Gen. Joe Brandumuehl made it a goal. Milne and Egstad said the wing took the challenge to heart and did it.
The VPP experience directly impacted every aspect of the wing's safety program and practices, and the awards directly reflect the commitment to safety by everyone on base, they added.
"We are exceptionally proud of our team of safety professionals," Brandemuehl said. "National military and civilian recognition for our wing safety programs clearly demonstrate the safety culture at the 115th Fighter Wing. For decades, we have strived to make this unit the premiere flying unit in the Air National Guard, and one way we've done that is to operate safely every day.
"A commander's first concern is for the well-being of their Airmen," he continued. "Accomplishing what we have over the last several years is truly a testament to being dedicated to excellence."
The 115th Fighter Wing last won the Pesch Award in 2005, when it was also awarded the William W. Spruance Safety Award.
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