Total force space team wins AF chief of staff award

Published Sept. 28, 2011
By 310th Space Wing Public Affairs
19th Space Operations Squadron

SCHRIEVER AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- A total force team received an Air Force Chief of Staff Team Excellence Award Sept. 20 for work in launching the first Global Position System IIF satellite last year.

Gen. Norton Schwartz presented the award to members of Schriever's 19th and 2nd Space Operations Squadrons, the Space and Missile System Center's GPS Directorate from Los Angeles AFB, Calif., and supporting contractors during the Air Force Association's Air and Space Conference in Washington, D.C.

The team was one of five award winners selected from a field of 23 nominees from across the Air Force.

"This is a fantastic credit to what Total Force Integration can accomplish," said Lt. Col. Damon Feltman, commander of the Air Force Reserve Command's 19th SOPS. "Each organization brought unique capabilities to the task of launching the first IIF. I'm glad we were able to showcase our teamwork and be recognized as one of the Air Force's best."

Lt. Col. Jennifer Grant commands the Regular Air Force's 2nd SOPS. She is proud of the "accomplishment of our total force team in the launch, checkout and deployment of the next generation of GPS satellites."

"I'm excited that the hard work of our subject matter experts, engineers and operators were recognized by the chief of staff of the Air Force for such outstanding performance - a performance that I have the opportunity to observe every single day," she said. "It is truly an honor to have our units recognized for this accomplishment."

Lt. Col. Dave Learned, the GPS IIF lead for SMC's GPS directorate, said earning the award shows how well space acquisition and operations work together. He said the award highlights "the Air Force commitment to ensuring GPS remains the preeminent navigation system in the world."

Some of the team's accomplishments included a 50 percent reduction in the number of launch rehearsals, a 22 percent reduction in launch and early orbit crew manning, a new Air Force Satellite Control Network resource-sharing process, and an accelerated vehicle check-out process.

While individual efficiencies became apparent during preparation and launch, it wasn't until the team members began getting ready for the competition that the full scope of their improvements dawned on them.

"Historically, we prepare for a new generation of GPS satellites by performing 12 mission rehearsals," said Master Sgt. Cory Garcia of the 19th SOPS. "We were able to reduce the number of rehearsals from 12 to six without compromising readiness.

"We did this by installing the IIF software upgrades on our ground system earlier than expected," Garcia said. "This allowed us to exercise specific parts of the launch mission and reduce the number of full launch and early orbit rehearsals. This change allowed us to save more than 11,000 man-hours per launch."

The competition required members of the team to prepare and present a 15-minute briefing before a panel of general officers.

In addition, they faced a 10-minute question-and-answer period from the judges. The theme of the briefing and questions centered on manpower and process efficiencies gained, money saved and sustainment of savings.

Finally, the team had to set up and man a display in the exhibit hall during the AFA Convention.

USAF. (U.S. Air Force Graphic by Rosario "Charo" Gutierrez)