TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. – The Air Force Civil Engineer Center’s Airfield Pavement Evaluation Team received the General Mark A. Welsh III One Air Force Award for demonstrating improved effectiveness, operational readiness and mission accomplishment through integrated solutions.
This Air Force-level award recognizes mission success achieved by a team of two or more Total Force components. Active-duty, Guard, Reserve, Civil Air Patrol, or Department of Defense civilians from major commands and direct reporting units can be considered for this award.
“This Total Force team is one of a kind in our Air Force and their skills are required world-wide,” said Col. John Tryon, director of AFCEC operations. “Because of that, they are some of the busiest folks in the military, and every day they directly support the Warfighters at the tip of the sword and their ability to fly, fight and win.”
A primary subordinate unit of Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center, the AFCEC APE Team is located at Tyndall AFB but provides service for pavement evaluation around the world. They are responsible for tracking the status and assessing the lifecycle repair times for 2.2 billion square feet of pavement valued at $20 billion across the Air Force.
“This award validates the incredible hard work of the APE Team as the Air Force’s best Total Force team,” said Capt. John Kulikowski, AFCEC former branch chief, airfield pavement evaluation. “Our team is constantly on the road providing world-class Warfighter support to the operational and engineering communities. Our dedication to destructive and non-destructive testing and certification of airfields across the globe ensures lethality of airpower.”
The mission of APE is to provide agile combat support to the Department of Defense through timely and accurate airfield pavement evaluations, and provide technical recommendations, equipment, and software for the management, design, and construction of pavements.
“It’s quite an accomplishment,” said Tech. Sgt. Zach Dorris, AFCEC APE technician. “Being a member on the team is hard work but very rewarding. The mission is second to none and will definitely be a highlight of my career.”
A dedicated APE Team ensures there are no show stoppers for the 6.2 million aircraft sorties flown per year across the Air Force.
The recognition is a great honor according to Staff Sgt. Christopher Kain, AFCEC APE technician. Kain has been on the APE Team for one year.
“Our team strives to provide the best data by working long and tough hours so that the mission planner can execute with confidence,” said Kain.
The APE team is located at Tyndall AFB but provides service for pavement evaluation around the world.
“I am so proud of our hardworking and dedicated APE Team members, made up of active duty, reserve and civilians, who are so deserving of this recognition,” said Tryon.
The General Mark A. Welsh III One Air Force Award winners from AFCEC at Tyndall AFB are the following:
- Team Lead: Capt. John Kulikowski
- Maj. Robert Rogers
- Maj. Andrew Jouben
- Capt. Sean Gann
- Capt. John Stribling
- Capt. Benjamin Johnson
- Capt. Kyle Imhoff
- Senior Master Sgt. Robinson Hidalgo
- Master Sgt. James Dixon
- Master Sgt. Bruce King
- Master Sgt. Ruben Hernandez
- Master Sgt. Johan Almanzar
- Tech. Sgt. Allin Pequit
- Tech. Sgt. Eric Carpenter
- Tech. Sgt. Zachary Dorris
- Tech Sgt. Travis Ripple
- Staff Sgt. Nikita Kraev
- Staff Sgt. Christopher Kain
- Richard Smith
- Harold Muniz
- Giselle Concepcion
- James Pittman