Governor Huntsman welcomes Installation Excellence Selection Board Team

  • Published
  • By Charles Freeman
  • 75th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
HILL AIR FORCE BASE, Utah --  Governor Jon Hunstman, Jr. welcomed Installation Excellence Selection Board members Wednesday at the Salt Lake International Airport in a strong show of support for Hill Air Force Base. 

The governor met briefly with IESB members to show his support for the base which is a finalist for the 2008 Commander in Chief's Installation Excellence Award. Hill, one of the top two bases in the Air Force, is competing against Dover Air Force Base, Del. The winner will be honored at the Pentagon in May and will receive $1 million, an Installation Excellence Trophy, Installation Excellence flag and a congratulatory letter signed by the President. The runner-up will receive $500,000 for future base improvements.

"We are really thrilled to have this opportunity," said Col. Linda R. Medler, commander of the 75th Air Base Wing. "It's not often that you have a chance at a million dollars."

The IESB consists of one general officer and three wing commanders. The members are Maj. Gen. Mark W. Anderson, Col. David W. Allvin, Col. Randall G. Falcon and Col. Michael L. Bartley.

In addition to the governor, IESB members were welcomed by Mrs. Utah, the Davis High School Drum Line, Layton High School cheerleaders, the Real Salt Lake mascot, the Utah Blaze mascot and the Utah Grizzlies mascot. The IESB team will be here through Feb. 1. They are visiting various parts of the base to talk with people and see the services and products produced.

In 1984, the President of the United States established the Commander in Chief's Annual Award for Installation Excellence 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 award encourages commanders to create an environment that promotes innovative and creative ways of enhancing base-level services, facilities, and quality-of-life.