Engineers leading the way to Presidential recognition

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Micky Bazaldua
  • 4th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. --  The mission of the 4th Fighter Wing's Civil Engineer Squadron is to plan, construct, and operate more than $1.5 billion of real property for two wings with F-15E and KC-135R aircraft; providing environmental stewardship and protection; preparing the wing to survive natural and wartime disasters; providing ordnance disposal; and housing military members in family houses and dormitories. 

Though it takes many people to accomplish the overall CES mission, a few have taken that extra step and gone above and beyond in their individual sections. 

They are the four members and one section who totaled five awards for Seymour Johnson Air Force Base that represent 30 percent selected in Air Combat Command chosen for the Air Force Level Commander in Chief's Installation Excellence Award Special Recognition category. 

The Air Force Level CINC IEA is a Presidential level award designed to recognize the outstanding efforts of the people who operate and maintain Department of Defense installations and who have done the best with their resources to support the mission. 

The Special Recognition Award, which is the category members of Seymour Johnson AFB placed in, is a program which recognizes units, teams, projects and individuals demonstrating exemplary achievement in the spirit of installation excellence. 

The Explosive Ordnance Disposal flight received the award as a flight. 

"The men and women of the 4th CES EOD flight are true warriors and heroes," said Chief Master Sgt. Michael Garrou, CES chief enlisted manager. "Countless lives are saved every day by these Airmen who render safe improvised explosive devices in Iraq and Afghanistan." 

In addition to this award, three EOD airmen were also awarded the Bronze Star Medal for combat actions in Iraq earlier this year. 

Leading the EOD flight was flight commander Capt. Brian Baumann who was also presented with this distinguished award. 

"His leadership was key to the flight award," said Chief Garrou. 

Capt. Baumann was also recognized at the 2006 Air Force Civil Engineer Senior Military Manager of the Year. 

Another awarded member is the chief of facility maintenance Senior Master Sgt. Paul Walker. Sergeant Walker was deployed to Southwest Asia in 2006 where he led a joint force heavy equipment section, built a new compound and constructed new facilities to increase fuel storage. 

From pest management operations, Staff Sgt. Steven Coffman was another Airman to receive this award. 

In addition to deploying and assisting during Hurricane Katrina, he was a wing STEP promotee and the 4th FW Lance P. Sijan award winner for 2006. 

Also awarded was Mr. Dennis G. Goodson. 

"It was great for him to win this award," said Harry Senatz, the CES operations flight commander. "He is outstanding here at Seymour Johnson and always gets the job done." 

"Like all our civilian employees, he is the glue that holds everything together," said Chief Garrou. 

"These awards validate the outstanding job the civil engineers do to maintain the facilities and infrastructure of Seymour Johnson Air Force Base," said Chief Garrou. "With over 1,500 facilities on 4,107 acres totaling $1.6 billion, the job is daunting, but in true CES fashion, they lead the way."