27 SOCES named Outstanding Civil Engineer Unit

by Senior Airman Alexxis Pons Abascal
27th Special Operations Wing Public Affairs

2/22/2013 - CANNON AIR FORCE BASE, N.M.  -- The 27th Special Operations Civil Engineer Squadron was presented with the Air Force's Outstanding Civil Engineer Unit Award at Cannon Air Force Base, N.M., Feb. 11.

Maj. Gen. Timothy A. Byers, Air Force Civil Engineer, and Chief Master Sgt. Jerry Lewis, AFCE chief of enlisted matters, ventured to the 27th Special Operations Wing to hand-deliver the award to Cannon's stellar Air Commandos.

The 27th SOCES is credited with executing the largest military contracting program for 2012, estimated at $1.29 billion. Cannon's civil engineers maintain and repair more than 2,000 facilities and roughly 92,000 acres of land -- a whopping $2.9 billion worth of infrastructure.

"Since the beginning of 2012, the 27th SOCES completed 61 construction and renovation projects using in-house military and Department of Defense civilian labor," said Lt. Col. Anthony Figiera, 27th SOCES commander. "The projects, totaling $2.28 million, provided critical skills to our military workforce -- skills they can use when they deploy overseas to support special operations missions. By completing the projects with in-house labor, the base saved approximately $600,000 in taxpayer dollars over the cost of having completing with a contract."

Col. Buck Elton, 27th SOW commander, tasked the 27th SOCES with one of the largest morale projects in 2012 -- the reconstruction of Liberty Pool. The $4.5 million dollar tasking was accomplished 90 days ahead of schedule.

In addition to the pool, engineers worked diligently in 2012 to revamp Cannon's aging fitness center, which included designing and constructing Air Force Special Operations Command's first combat fitness facility. The 27th SOCES was awarded $1.3 million and completed repairs three months ahead of schedule, keeping Air Commandos fit to fight.

"Maj. Gen. Byers and Chief Lewis were impressed with their visit to Cannon," Figiera added. "Chief Lewis explained to the 27th SOCES team that he'd join us at Cannon in a heartbeat. He went on to say we have a great mission, motivated team and great leadership. His final words for the team were to keep up the great work."