512th AW crew chief wins AFRC Safety NCO of the Year

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Deb Robinson
  • 512th Public Affairs
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. --  A 512th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron's C-5 crew chief was recently presented the Ground Safety Noncommissioned Officer of the Year Award for Dover Air Force Base, 22nd Air Force and Air Force Reserve Command. 

The award recognizes outstanding achievements in ground safety between Oct. 1, 2007 and Sept. 30, 2008. 

Tech. Sgt. James Blake, the AFRC Ground Safety NCO of the Year, was recognized for his initiatives, which resulted in eliminating safety hazards and making Dover AFB a safer place to work. 

Following the installation of armor on the flight decks of C-5 aircraft, Sergeant Blake said he immediately noticed the armored flooring at the stair ladder entrance posed a tripping hazard. As a result of his reporting, the armored entrance area was modified to provide proper footing for ground maintenance and aircrew personnel. 

He also initiated the base crosswalk lighting program to eliminate areas of low lighting conditions for pedestrian safety. 

"Sergeant Blake does an excellent job as the unit safety representative, and I know he is most deserving of the award because of all he does for this unit," said Master Sgt. William Tarrant, 512th AMXS. 

As the unit safety representative for about 160 personnel, he has had zero on-duty lost time injures and no first aid injuries for both civilian and military personnel. 

"Sergeant Blake earned the award because safety to him isn't a job, but rather an accepted responsibility that he takes seriously," said Capt. Matthew Padgett, 512th AMXS. "He knows that his contributions are keeping our team members out of harm's way." 

Sergeant Blake now goes on to compete for the Air Force Ground Safety Noncommissioned Officer of the Year Award. (Master Sgt. Veronica A. Aceveda, 512th Public Affairs, contributed to this story.)