Hill top performers earn Lt. Gen. Leo Marquez Award

  • Published
  • By Mary Lou Gorny
  • Hilltop Times editor
HILL AIR FORCE BASE, Utah --  Richard S. Jones, Munitions Accountability Systems manager, was selected to receive the Air Force level Lt. Gen. Leo Marquez Award as the Munitions and Missile Maintenance Civilian Manager of the Year for 2009.

According to Jones' citation, it was in his role as manager that he accurately accounted for more than 7,800 receipts and shipments involving 10,300 line items valued at $412 million, and exceeded the Air Force average by ten times. His citation also says he led the squadron through two successful Air Force Audit Agency audits involving the depot and nuclear weapons-related material stockpiles meeting strict guidelines.

He also is reported to have found a difficult "ghost reporting" turn in issue involving munitions Air Force wide.

"I've been kind of overwhelmed by this whole thing," Jones said, when asked about the award. "It's a crazy world we live in when some guy sitting at his desk out in the middle of nowhere, just doing the job he gets paid to do, gets recognized like this.

"Individual awards are based on team achievement," Jones continued. "My job is just to monitor accountability-related pieces of the work that gets done. The real credit goes to the folks that are out there receiving, shipping, moving, storing, inspecting, and inventorying the munitions."

When asked about some of the things he has learned to help him succeed in his career field, he answered, "My philosophy is this: You can never go wrong by going 'by the book.'"

Those receiving Lt. Gen. Leo Marquez Awards at the Air Force Materiel Command level and their categories are:

Master Sgt. Mark W. Arehart, 309th Maintenance Wing, for AFMC Outstanding Aircraft Maintenance Person of the Year, Supervisor Manager

Staff Sgt. Brett T. Hogan, 309th MXW, for AFMC Outstanding Aircraft Maintenance Person of the Year, Technician Supervisor

Senior Airman Thomas R. Engel, 309th MXW, for AFMC Outstanding Aircraft Maintenance Person of the Year, Technician

Maj. Mark Sotallaro, 649th Munitions Squadron, AFMC Outstanding Munitions/Missiles Maintenance Person of the Year, Field Grade Manager

Capt. Joseph J. Hyun, 649th MUNS, AFMC Outstanding Munitions/Missiles Maintenance Person of the Year, Company Grade Manager

Richard S. Jones, 649th MUNS, AFMC Outstanding Munitions/Missiles Maintenance, Civilian Manager

The Lt. Gen. Leo Marquez Awards are presented to the highest performers in the categories of aircraft, munitions/missile and communications-electronics maintenance.