Fuels Management Flight wins Drake Trophy

by Senior Airman Jensen Stidham
20th Fighter Wing

2/19/2015 - SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. -- The 20th Logistic Readiness Squadron fuels management flight was recently awarded the Air Combat Command 2014 Drake Trophy for the most outstanding fuels management flight in ACC.

The Drake Trophy is named after the Drake Well, which was the first commercial oil well drilled in the United States. The well is credited with igniting the oil boom in the early 1900's and fueling our nation towards industrialization.

Despite several manning cutbacks and other challenges throughout 2014, the fuels management flight used this as an opportunity to showcase their resiliency and shape the "new normal" of executing day-to-day operations. This and many other innovations led the 20th LRS fuels management flight to win the Drake Trophy for Shaw for the first time since the trophies creation in 1992.

"Shaw is the largest combat F-16CM wing in the Air Force and we supplied over 13 million gallons supporting more than 13,000 sorties," said Master Sgt. James Henderson, 20th LRS fuels management flight superintendent.

During 2014, the flight had a 34 percent decrease in personnel while their workload increased by 19 percent.

"The hard work and high morale of our Airmen truly embodied 'Airman Up' by doing their job to the best of their ability and providing continuous support no matter the circumstances," said Henderson.

More than 5.5 thousand man-hours were put into fueling the 20th Fighter Wing's aircraft to meet mission requirments. Not only has the flight supported the mission of the 20th FW, but they also supported a $300 million 823rd RED HORSE project.

Though the flight achieved success in 2014, they are already thinking about more ways to enhance the mission.

"Going into 2015, one of the major changes involved rightsizing our duty hours and manpower based on the wing's flying schedule," said Henderson. "This adjustment has proved successful due to our great partnership and communications with the 20th Operations Group and the 20th Maintenance Group. Getting the trophy is motivation for our flight because now they really know that they are the best at what they do."

Not only does the award prove to the Airmen that they are the best at what they do, but it also brings community within the flight.

"This trophy has brought a great sense of pride and ownership in our flight," said Senior Airman Dillon Garnto, 20th LRS fuels distribution journeyman. "The Airmen who were here during the past year know what it took to achieve this award and want to work even harder to keep it for another year."

The top three MAJCOMs will compete for the coveted American Petroleum Institute award.