Installation Excellence Selection Board visits Altus AFB

by Senior Airman Jesse Lopez
97th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs

1/13/2014 - ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- A team of inspectors from the Installation Excellence Selection Board visited Altus Air Force Base Jan. 8 - 11 to determine the winner of the Commander-in-Chief's Installation Excellence Award.

Col. Richard D. McComb, Associate Director of Security Forces, Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics, Installations and Mission Support, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.; Col. Robert W. Stanley II, 341st Missile Wing commander, Malmstrom Air Force Base, Mont.; Col. Christopher M. Short 366th Fighter Wing commander, Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho.; and Col. Brett J. Clark, 94th Airlift Wing commander, Dobbins Air Reserve Base, Ga. made up the inspection team.

"The inspection team visited the majority of our workspaces to verify what we already know," said Col. Bill Spangenthal, 97th Air Mobility Wing commander. "It's because of what you do every day: execute the mission, take care of our Airmen, & support our families."

Air Education and Training Command commander Gen. Robin Rand announced the 97th Air Mobility Wing as the AETC nominee for the award in November, and the wing was further selected to compete against Travis Air Force Base, Calif. for the final award.

"Altus AFB has stood out as an example in innovation and cost-savings across our Air Force. This is a collective reflection of dedicated Airmen contributing to overall mission success. The result of their hard work can be seen throughout the service and around the world through global mobility. Thank you for your commitment to excellence," said Rand.

When the reviewing is finalized and the nominee is approved by the Secretary of the Air Force, the winning installation is awarded $1 million and $500,000 is given to the runner-up. The monetary incentive is to be used for future quality of life improvements for their respective installations.

To win the award, an installation must demonstrate exemplary support for the Department of Defense mission and show marked improvement and innovative progress in various processes that are fundamental to an installation's successful operations.