Hanscom employee captures DOD-level award

by Patty Welsh
66th Air Base Group Public Affairs

12/23/2015 - HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. -- The Department of Defense has recognized a Hanscom employee with a prestigious product support award.

Perry Hill,  product support manager and chief of logistics for the C3I and Networks Directorate's Space, Aerial and Nuclear Networks Division, recently won the 2015 Secretary of Defense Product Support Manager Award in the category of Major Weapon System/Other Weapon System, acquisition category II or below.

According to DOD, the award recognizes PSMs as "important partners" in providing the best product support for warfighters. In the memo from the Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics soliciting nominees for the award, it says "the Product Support Manager (PSM) is a critical program position in delivering weapon system readiness affordably and effectively."

"Perry revolutionized our support to critical warfighting systems," said Col. Todd Krueger, Space, Aerial and Nuclear Networks Division senior materiel leader. "His initiatives and innovative solutions are paying huge dividends in controlling life cycle costs while ensuring world class sustainment."

Hill's ability to create efficiencies helped him garner the award.

For example, his multi-program executive officer's approved process for linking product support execution across the division's 20-plus programs and projects connected development and sustainment and resulted in the creation of a combined life cycle planning and execution team. He also looked for opportunities to create business models to eliminate overlapping capabilities, leading to savings for the Air Force and, ultimately, the taxpayer.

"He is simply the best in his field," Krueger said. "Perry is renowned for his exceptional knowledge and skill. You can't effectively accomplish full life cycle management responsibility without an outstanding product support manager, and Perry sets the example."

Hill delivered weapon system support by driving development of an integrated maintenance schedule that enabled sustainment of the $1.6 billion Battlefield Airborne Communications Node fleet in theater with a 90 percent aircraft availability rate and a 100 percent mission effectiveness rate.

According to Krueger, Hill is also responsible for sustainment planning, execution and transition for numerous airborne networking and satellite communication (SATCOM) terminal programs. In addition, he led product support efforts for the division's nuclear command, control and communications (NC3) programs, ensuring the entire life cycle was considered during initial strategy development.

And technical expertise was not the only area noted. According to his nomination package, Hill worked to improve professional development of the life cycle logistics workforce by developing a monthly academic and leadership development program to enhance critically needed skillsets.

"Perry is a phenomenal leader and teacher," Krueger said. "He saw the need for strong mentoring and on his own initiative he developed his unique and informative program."

Hill praised others for helping him win.

"The credit goes to HNA [Space, Aerial and Nuclear Networks Division] and C3I&N PEO who have provided me with strong leadership support and an outstanding support cast to make this happen," he said. "I'm certainly indebted to them and the team for all they've done."

The winners of the PSM awards will be acknowledged at the Spring 2016 Office of the Secretary of Defense Product Support Manager/Performance-Based Logistics Workshop.