Ground Safety NCO of the Year

from AMC

2/5/2014 - Spring 2014 -- Ground Safety NCO of the Year

TSgt Calvin Grade Jr.
730 AMS, Yokota AB, Japan

TSgt Calvin Grade is the NCOIC of Safety for the 730th Air Mobility Squadron, Yokota AB, Japan. TSgt Grade is responsible for implementing the commanders' safety program and providing safety program oversight and support for all AMC transient aircraft. His background includes the management of all ground, flight, and weapons safety programs.

Over the past year, TSgt Grade led many successful safety initiatives. He established an OSHA outreach training program for his host Wing, where he trained 75 managers in employee rights and employer responsibilities. He created and published a new mishap reporting form, which ensured supervisor recommendations were up-channeled to the appropriate commander. TSgt Grade also identified and mitigated several critical hazards through his robust spot inspection program.

TSgt Grade majored in Occupational Safety and Health at Columbia Southern University. There he completed a bachelor's degree in 2010 and a master's degree in 2012. He is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Public Safety from Capella University.

TSgt Grade is a native of Baltimore, MD, and joined the Air Force in 1998. He began his career as a supply apprentice. His supply assignments include Minot AFB, ND; Moody AFB, GA; Eglin AFB, FL; and Andrews AFB, MD. Tsgt Grade re-trained into Ground Safety in April 2004. His safety assignments include Luke AFB, AZ; Kadena AB, Japan; Tyndall AFB, FL; and Yokota AB, Japan. He has deployed numerous times in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom.