Dover Air Force Base named best in Air Mobility Command

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  • By 436th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. --  Dover Air Force Base is the winner of the Air Mobility Command 2010 Commander-in-Chief's Annual Award for Installation Excellence, AMC announced Tuesday.

The Commander in Chief's Annual Award for Installation Excellence recognizes the outstanding and innovative efforts of the people who operate and maintain U.S. military installations.

"This is an incredible base, manned by even more incredible individuals," said Col. Manson Morris, 436th Airlift Wing commander. "Their individual efforts and daily dedication to outstanding performance are what made this possible."

Some areas Team Dover highlighted include base civil engineers accomplishing runway rubber removal using an innovative, local process; forward-thinking, collaborative facility design that will bring the base's tower and radar functions together in a more efficient building; pharmacy staff using telephone systems to expeditiously fill more than 185,000 refill and new prescriptions, and transient maintenance personnel who serviced nearly 3,500 aircraft and were voted the best by visiting aircrews.

"Team Dover has always strived for excellence and this award validates the hard work they do every day to make Dover America's Preeminent Expeditionary Airlift Team," said Col. Michael Fitzhenry, 512th AW commander.

This award continues the accolades Dover has received this year, coming on the heels of the Central Delaware Chamber of Commerce's Abilene trophy win, recognizing the community as providing the best support to an AMC installation.

"We could not have won this award without the tremendous partnership we have with the local community," said Colonel Morris. "Thank you for your tireless backing of our Airmen and your role in our nation's defense."

Team Dover will now go forward to the Air Force-level competition. If selected as one of the top two finalists for the Air Force, an evaluation team will return to Dover for one and a half days early next year to decide the Air Force winner.

In addition to the award, Dover AFB will receive $100,000 in quality-of-life funds. Quality-of-life improvements in the past have included updating the base theater, improvements to the base running track as well as the addition of jogging trails, and installing specialized crosswalk lighting at three of the base's busiest crosswalks.

The AMC decision process included visits to the three AMC finalists: Dover AFB, Little Rock AFB, Ark., and Charleston AFB, S.C. The AMC team spent only 24 hours at Dover, but experienced more than 130 briefings given by more than 200 individuals.

"It was obvious that the individuals of Team Dover are focused on continuing to build Dover's legacy of excellence," said Colonel Morris. "Their superb work definitely left a resoundingly positive impression on our guests, and I am sure that impression will last for years."