Hurlburt named best Air Force installation

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  • By 1st SOW Public Affairs
HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. --  Secretary of the Air Force Michael B. Donley announced today that Hurlburt Field is the Air Force winner of the Commander In Chief's 2009 Installation Excellence Award. 

The award recognizes the Air Force installation that most demonstrates innovative programs which create and sustain excellent base operations. 

"This recognition comes at a time when we are globally engaged in overseas contingency operations," said Col. Gregory J. Lengyel, 1st Special Operations Wing commander. "It truly speaks to the effort, dedication and commitment of everyone residing and working on this installation." 

The president of the United States established the Commander In Chief's annual award in 1984 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, and it comes with a $1 million prize to use for quality of life improvements on base.
An Installation Excellence Selection Board, comprised of four Air Force officers, visited Hurlburt Field and Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., the two finalists in the competition, in January. 

During the visit, Hurlburt showcased facilities, services and programs across the base that highlighted productivity, leadership and innovation in maintaining excellent quality of life on an installation that deploys more than 2,500 Airman in a year. 

"In the end, the IESB team was most impressed with our people," said Colonel Lengyel. "The message we wanted to convey, 'Team Hurlburt--the Air Force's most relevant team in today's joint fight,' was heard loud and clear." 

The base plans to use the prize money to repair and upgrade a sports field located behind the Aderholt Fitness Center. 

The Secretary of Defense or a designated representative will honor Hurlburt Field as the winning installation during a ceremony at the Pentagon in the near future.