HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. – Winners of the 2019 Air Force Life Cycle Management Center Acquisition Management awards were recognized during a ceremony at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio, Nov. 14.
The ceremony, held via video teleconference, included Hanscom and 10 other operating locations. The awards recognize AFLCMC teams and individuals who demonstrate excellence in managing acquisition and test programs. All nominees had previously won at the installation-level before competing at the AFLCMC-level.
“A lot of what we do here at Hanscom seems to be infectious,” said Maj. Gen. Michael Schmidt, program executive officer for Command, Control, Communications, Intelligence and Networks. “We’ve laid a foundation that others are building upon.”
The Kessel Run team, AFLCMC Detachment 12, was recognized as the center’s Continuous Process Improvement Team.
Over the past year, the Kessel Run team has revolutionized software acquisitions, creating new capabilities in operations every 12 hours. Additionally, the team developed a software cloud fielding solution that saves $10 million annually.
Capt. Melissa VonOhlen, a Program Executive Office Digital program manager, was named the winner of Outstanding AFLCMC Program Management Acquisition Category III, Military.
While serving as the program manager for Weather Service, Live, Virtual, Constructive, Aerospace Management Systems Division, VonOhlen was instrumental in migrating the Air Force Weather’s first program in cloud computing, establishing the roadmap for the weather system branch’s $130 million enterprise efforts.
Lt. Col. Kathryn Cantu, Command, Control, Communications, Intelligence and Networks Directorate program manager, was recognized as the winner of Outstanding AFLCMC Program Management, Acquisition Category II, Military.
Cantu fulfilled the Air Force’s role as system integrator and conducted a full audit of sub-system specifications. She also conducted the first phase of system-level testing and developed an integrated sustainment strategy for the warfighter.
This was the sixth annual AFLCMC Acquisition Awards ceremony.