Hurlburt officially recognized as best in Air Force

  • Published
  • By Amy Oliver
  • 1st Special Operations Wing Public Affairs
HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. --  Hurlburt Field was officially recognized as the best base in the Air Force at two Commander-in-Chief's Installation Excellence Award ceremonies this week at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C.

Secretary of the Air Force Michael B. Donley presided over a small ceremony attended by several Air Force leaders July 21 where he presented a citation and a ceremonial check for $1 million to Col. Greg Lengyel, 1st Special Operations Wing commander and installation commander of Hurlburt Field.

"It's no secret that the special operations community has been very busy," Secretary Donley said. "Hurlburt Field has been at the center of the activity since the beginning (of the current overseas contingency operations)."

A group of 17 Airmen and civilians from Hurlburt Field representing a cross-section of the team responsible for preparing the base for the IEA selection board's visit in January attended the ceremonies in the nation's capital. Mayor Mike Anderson of Fort Walton Beach and Mayor Chuck Bolton of Mary Esther also attended as community representatives.

"They are always mission-focused at Hurlburt Field, yet they have demonstrated a string of firsts, a string of excellent performance," Secretary Donley said. My hat's off to the Hurlburt Field community for your inspiration to other bases across the Air Force."

The Hurlburt Field team returned to the Pentagon July 22 for a larger ceremony honoring all of the IEA winners.

Commanders and team members from Fort Stewart/Hunter Army Airfield, Ga., Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., Commander Fleet Activities Yokosuka, Japan, and Defense Distribution Depot San Joaquin, Calif. took part in the event over which Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Installations and Environment Dr. Dorothy Robyn presided.

Doctor Robyn, who is new to the position, turned the floor over to her predecessor Wayne Arny to provide the keynote address to the five installations.

During his remarks, Mr. Arny emphasized that energy savings programs in place at each base were instrumental in the award selections. Other factors included quality of life and quality in the work place, as well as war readiness.

This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Commander-in-Chief's Award for Installation Excellence, which was started by President Ronald Reagan in 1985 to reward installations who have made best use of their resources to sustain the mission, increase productivity of the workforce and enhance the quality of life for everyone who lives and works on the installation. The award, which comes with a $1 million prize for use toward quality-of-life initiatives, is given annually to one installation in each of the four military services and to a Defense Logistics Agency installation.

This is the second time Hurlburt Field has won this coveted award, and the third time in six years it was runner up.

During the ceremony, DUSD officials retired the IEA trophy awarded during the past 24 years and unveiled the new crystal obelisk trophy before presenting each team their own trophy to take home and display at their respective installations.

"One of the Air Force core values is excellence in all we do," Colonel Lengyel said during his acceptance remarks. "Installation Excellence translates into combat excellence. We take great pride in saving American lives and unleashing hell on the enemy with specialized airpower. Any Time, Any Place."

Colonel Lengyel acknowledged the role Hurlburt Field's Airmen, civilians and local community played in the earning of this award.

"We would not be here if it were not for the support of our community," Colonel Lengyel said. "In the end, it was not our facilities or programs, it was our mission-focused people who won this award."