Sullivan Awards presented to Hill top performers Published Nov. 22, 2013 Hilltop Times Staff OGDEN, Utah -- The Air Force Association, Ute-Rocky Mountain chapter, honored members of Team Hill in the maintenance and logistics areas as several top performance awards on Nov. 12. The 20th annual event, held at the Ben Lomond Suites banquet area, formally recognized 26 individuals and their accomplishments. Keynote speaker was Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Bob McMahon, president and CEO of 21st Century Partnership, a nonprofit organization for the military value of Robins Air Force Base and the resiliency of middle Georgia. McMahon served as director of Maintenance, deputy chief of staff for Logistics, Installations and Mission Support, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, and as the director of maintenance and director of aircraft for the Ogden Air Logistics Center. Those honored with Kevin J. Sullivan Maintenance and Logistics awards include the following: Ogden Air Logistics Complex: Jetta Abplanalp, 309th Electronics Maintenance Group, financial expert: In FY 2013, funding was decreased with only one month left. Abplanalp took it upon herself to develop a detailed manpower plan at the repair cost center level for 668 employees. The process was implemented across the 309th EMXG. Scott Anderson, 309th Maintenance Support Squadron mechanical engineer: Anderson executed $750,000 in security upgrades for F-35 aircraft maintenance in purge/fuel facility and installed security provisions for F-35 engine run-up in aircraft hush house. Hedeveloped F-35 aircraft hydraulics and cooling system specifications for hangars. Donald Anderton, A-10 Operational Flight Program Software Team manager: The team led by Anderton successfully transitioned A-10 software from multiple industry sources and overcame several transitional boundaries to complete the transition 50 percent faster than other similar operational flight program transitions, adding over 10,000 lines of code and more than a dozen new functionalities with less than 30 percent of the anticipated resources. Gary Bailey, 532nd Commodities Maintenance Squadron aircraft mechanic: An expert in refurbishing aircraft brakes across 11 weapon systems on T-38 brakes, he's worked hand-in-hand with Quality Assurance to save the technician's time at a rate of 75 percent. Jeff Cislo, director, Business Operations, 309th Aircraft Maintenance Group: He led all support efforts to implement and automate the Air Force Sustainment Center's centerpiece depot system -- the production machine; a feat unmatched in any other complex. He also drastically improved production accounting restoring over 15,000 hours to the C-130 and F-16 production lines. Preston Deschamp, supervisor, 572nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, 309th Aircraft Maintenance Group: During a voluntary 120 day detail as a supervisor, his focus on fundamental maintenance discipline resulted in a 99 percent pass rate on quality evaluations. All maintenance under his direction exceeded technical requirements resulting in delivery of four "zero defect" C-130s, and contributing to the 572nd AMXS achieving the lowest customer reported defect rate in six years. Barbara Gaehle, Ogden Air Logistics Complex management analyst: Responsible for supporting seven groups and nine staff offices within the OO-ALC as the complex awards monitor, she processed over 300 retirement certificates, 200 presidential requests, 500-plus Length of Service certificates, and numerous incentive awards. She also stepped up in the absence of protocol personnel. Chuck Hamby, F-16 master scheduler, 573rd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, 309th Aircraft Maintenance Group: He expertly choreographs the induction of hundreds of F-16 aircraft annually into the depot for modification and repair as the architect and guardian of the F-16 Air Force Sustainment Center production machine, directing the flow of aircraft through 7 distinct programs across 5 different facilities. Steve Horne, lead planner for all new manufacturing requirements of aircraft parts and unique fixturing in 533rd Commodities Maintenance Squadron: With expertise recognized throughout the base in reviewing capabilities to manufacture parts that cannot be obtained through normal supply channels, Horne oversaw in excess of 400 bids, resulting in more than 11,500 aircraft parts manufactured for F-16, A-10, C-130, T-38 and C-17 aircraft. AnnMarie Karger, Ogden Air Logistics Complex project lead: Instrumental to the OO-ALC's increased supply support/discipline, she created 14 operating instruction/process guides resulting in overall monthly backorder reductions of 2,000-plus hours. Lance Lukesh, supervisor for the dual mode transmitter within the 523rd Electronics Maintenance Squadron: Through his knowledge of workloads and personnel, Lukesh orchestrated a reduction of shop flow days by 68 percent; reduction of work in progress by 70 percent thus increasing production capacity; and improved cross training utilization from 28 to 74 percent. Shelly Polson, funds management specialist, Ogden Air Logistics Complex: Responsible for oversight of the capital investment program, her hard work and dedication ensured ending the Financial Year with 23 projects being obligated on-time. She implemented the full operational capability reporting process for items purchased but not delivered. Liz Schell, management analyst for the 309th Commodities Maintenance Group: As new program manager for the group's cell phone program, she saved the group over $6,300 in the first two weeks, and is still looking for ways to reduce the bill. Robert Sellin, C-130 quality assurance specialist: Instrumental in resolving the C-130 drag and rainbow fitting Taper-Lok installation deficiencies, his knowledge was influential in the coordination with structural engineers to develop guidance. Cynthia Sepulveda, supervisory quality assurance specialist in the Quality Assurance Office: Sepulveda's leadership has transformed the quality assurance office into being the best-of-the-best. A superior performer on two Logistics Compliance Assessment Program Evaluations, she commits significant time and energy training her team and inspiring them to be "awesome." Gary Stephens, planning chief, 574th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron: Responsible for planning over 75 F-22 depot and organizational level time compliance technical orders, he worked closely with the Lockheed Martin planning group to ensure critical, short-notice corrosion inspections were fully executable on multiple aircraft undergoing depot level maintenance. He developed the FY 2014 workload bid proposal securing 300,000 man-hours of new work for the depot. Lisa Summers, work on the F-22 Greybeard Assessment of the Depot Consolidation Plan: Summers' work anticipated savings over $500 million. She created an issue resolutions best practice guide enabling the OO-ALC, System Program Office, and Supply Chain Management Organizations to replicate a proven problem resolution process. Sandra Turner, section chief for the 531st Armament Repair Flight: She oversees four shops in the armament flight. Her outstanding leadership and management have resulted in a Remote Control Center year-to-date yield of 1,137 without overtime; 1,280 with overtime. Mitchell Warren, Portable Automated Test Sets-30 Sustainment Project lead: The PATS-30 Sustainment Project implemented a rapid response to address unanticipated sustainment issues in the A-10. This organic program had a direct cost savings of $1 million in FY 2013 because of reduced flow days, compared to the contractor. Mandy Whitaker, Ogden Air Logistics Complex Tool manager: She led her team while rewriting the "tool and equipment management" chapter of the Depot Maintenance Manual and went on to organize and lead the review and final revisions with HQ Air Force Materiel Command personnel and all ALCs. 748th Supply Chain Management Group: John Likens, spearheaded finding a lost shipment of brake and rotor parts for the A-10 Thunderbolt II: His efforts involved expert collaboration with the Defense Logistics Agency, A-10 System Program Office, Contracting Directorate, and the 309th Commodities Maintenance Group -- efforts critical to avoiding the grounding of 40 aircraft. Lance Moss, engineer for the F-16 and KC-135 secondary power systems: Recognized worldwide as the expert for these systems, he initiated and led a $5 million dollar F-16 and KC-135 turbine engine improvement effort expected to increase system reliability by 50 percent. Capt. Dalbert Shaw, collaborated with the Landing Gear Integrated Project Teams, 309th Commodities Maintenance Group, Defense Logistics Agency, System Program Offices and Contracting Directorate: His steadfast leadership was key to the 417th Supply Chain Management Squadron's exceeding monthly mission-incapable rate goals by 49 percent for the year, setting the squadron record of 17,600 in May of 2013. Stephen Wells, lead equipment specialist for the F-16 Supply Chain Management Flight Avionics Section: Wells manages 266 F-16 aircraft national stock numbers worth over $10.5 million. He was instrumental to standing up a $50 million depot repair capability to support a major aircraft modification. 75th Air Base Wing: Amanda Bowden, Voluntary Protection Program: As a motivator, team builder and leader of one of the OO-ALC's most comprehensive, diverse and consistently proven Voluntary Protection Programs, Bowden revitalized the program with 222 bronze and silver certificates issued, and 50 percent reduction in mishaps. She integrated 56 required elements into the VPP training ensuring compliance for future Star inspections. Nate Mazer Award: Kay Stowell: He started as a tour guide for the museum in November 1994, and still remains a faithful volunteer after 19 years and over 5,500 hours. He served in the U.S. Army Air Force in World War II and remained in the U.S. Army Reserves until 1974. He has been selected as Volunteer of the Month at the museum multiple times, and serves on the Veterans Honor Guard at funerals.