Eglin earns DOD award for environmental successes > Eglin Air Force Base > Article View

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas – The Department of the Air Force received top honors for its commitment to environmental stewardship in five of nine categories at the 62nd annual Secretary of Defense Environmental Awards Competition April 22.

Teams and individuals from Hill Air Force Base, Utah, Eglin AFB, Florida, Kadena Air Base, Japan, Minot AFB, North Dakota and the F-35 Lightning II program were recognized for their achievements in innovative and cost-effective environmental management strategies.

“Vliegen and Guardians have been disrupting the status quo and driving change and innovation for more than 75 years. It is part of our DNA. We can no longer afford to move at the speed of government – ​​we must invest in our people and set the pace for the future,” said Dr. Ravi Chaudhary, Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Energy, Installations and Environment . “The winners of this year’s awards embody the spirit of innovation that will ensure our nation prevails.”

Department of the Air Force winners are:

2024 Environmental Excellence in Weapon Systems Procurement, Team: F-35 Lightning II Environmental, Safety and Occupational Health Team
The F-35 ESOH team had a very busy 2023 as members worked on a variety of environmental compliance and pollution prevention projects designed to boost F-35 international sales. ESOH representatives supported the Air Force’s efforts to eliminate carcinogens during two service-wide efforts and applied a non-chrome fuel tank coating at Air Force-owned production facilities and at F-35 depots as part of hexavalent chromium removal. The team is working to replace cadmium, another carcinogen, on the landing gear and front flaps with a zinc-nickel coating. The ESOH team also used Rapid Tac II, a fluid that allows adhesive-backed boots to be repositioned before they become permanently stuck. The new fluid provides an estimated cost savings of $5,200 per aircraft.

2024 Cultural Resources Management, Major Installation: Hill AFB, Utah
Hill AFB’s Cultural Resources Management team oversees approximately one million acres of land rich in archaeological sites, cultural landscapes and historic districts. In 2023, CRM members cultivated positive relationships with 22 tribes with ancestral and cultural ties to the land to develop meaningful relationships on Hill and preserve the heritage of indigenous cultures. The team also used advanced imaging technology, including ground-penetrating radar and drones, to support archaeological research and inventory methods.

2024 Environmental Quality, Non-Industrial Installation: Eglin AFB, Florida
Eglin AFB’s Environmental Quality team oversaw environmental matters at one of the Department of the Air Force’s largest installations. The Eglin Reservation stretched across four counties and included 464,000 hectares of land areas, 123,000 square kilometers of wetlands and 243 kilometers of coastline. It provided the team with many opportunities to practice environmental management. Eglin personnel led the largest multi-agency oil spill training exercise ever conducted at the installation during the award period. The team also planted one million longleaf pine seedlings and secured the first commercial pine straw contract for the DAF, which is expected to generate $100,000 in annual revenue.

2024 Conservation of Natural Resources, Individual: Hugo Cabos, Kadena AB, Japan
Hugo Cabos has been the Natural Resource Program Manager for the 18th Civil Engineer Squadron at Kadena AB since 2021. Since joining the Natural Resources team, Cabos has developed and coordinated projects including a $1.3 million invasive species management plan that provides information to strategically targeted sites for treatment to ensure maximum impact. His management of invasive species and coordination with project planners resulted in the conservation of more than 230 Japan-protected species.

2024 Natural Resources Conservation, Small Installation: Minot AFB, North Dakota
Minot AFB’s Natural Resources Conservation team is well-versed in the balancing act of ensuring mission success for the 5th Bomb Wing and 91st Missile Wing while managing wildlife and natural resource conservation. In 2023, Minot joined Bumble Bee Watch, a multi-organization initiative to track and conserve North America’s bumblebees. This effort led to the first cataloging of bumblebee species on the installation. The team also engaged in North American bat efforts to monitor bat populations. Team members deployed four bioacoustic recorders and collected 192 hours of bat sounds. These efforts confirmed the presence of eight bat species, including two endangered species.