Fabrication Shop Citations

Fabrication Flight Chief

Master Sergeant John M. Tackett distinguished himself by meritorious service while serving as Fabrication Flight Chief, 36th Maintenance Squadron, 36th Maintenance Group, 36th Wing, Andersen Air Force Base, Guam. During this period, Sergeant Tackett contributed immeasurably to the mission success of the 36th Wing when he integrated 90 deployed personnel into the Fabrication Flight. Utilizing his leadership and managerial skills, his flight completed over 3,600 aircraft repairs in direct support of over 5800 Air Expeditionary Force sorties. Additionally, Sergeant Tackett piloted preparations for the 36th Maintenance Squadron's Logistics Compliance Assessment Program inspection. His meticulous evaluation of 75 programs ensured compliance and garnered an excellent rating from the Pacific Air Force Inspector General inspection team. Furthermore, he diligently led the restoration of 216 Aerospace Ground Equipment units, reducing shop backlog by fifty percent and raising the Aerospace Ground Equipment in-commission rate to an unprecedented 92 percent. Finally, his sound duty performance and initiative prompted his unanimous selection as the Squadron's Senior Non Commissioned Officer of the year 2009. The distinguished accomplishments of Master Sergeant Tackett reflect credit upon himself, the 36th Maintenance Squadron and the United States Air Force.

Fabrication Shop Supervisor

Master Sergeant Fred Cadena Jr distinguished himself by meritorious service while serving as Fabrication Shop Supervisor, 163d Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, 163d Reconnaissance Wing, March Air Reserve Base, California. During this period, the outstanding professional skill, dedication, and ceaseless efforts of Sergeant Cadena resulted in major contributions to the effectiveness and success of the 163d Reconnaissance Wing. Sergeant Cadena utilized a vast breadth of technical knowledge and aircraft experience to maintain and repair complex aircraft structural systems, thus ensuring the airworthiness and mission effectiveness of the Wing's legacy fleet of O2, F-4C, F-4E, RF-4C, KC-135E, and KC-135R Stratotankers. Additionally, as Fabrication Flight Supervisor, Sergeant Cadena was a central figure in the unit's successful conversion to the MQ-1B Predator weapons system. Sergeant Cadena's breadth of experience and adept coordination enabled the establishment and sustainment of MQ-1B Remote Split Operation and Launch and Recovery Element operations. These actions directly led to over 74,000 combat flying hours as well as the 163d being the very first Air National Guard Unmanned Aerial System unit to fly a training sortie in the United States. Moreover, Sergeant Cadena was absolutely vital to the success of real-world contingency operations such as OPERATION TEAM SPIRIT, JOINT FORGE, TANDUM THRUST, IRAQI FREEDOM, ENDURING FREEDOM, and NEW DAWN. The distinctive accomplishments of Sergeant Cadena culminate an outstanding career in service of his country and reflect great credit upon himself, the Air National Guard, and the United States Air Force.

Fabrication Flight Chief

Master Sergeant Richard B Keesling distinguished himself by meritorious service while serving as Fabrication Flight Chief, 2d Airlift Squadron, 43d Airlift Group, Pope Field, North Carolina. During this period, Sergeant Keesling identified a technical data deficiency inhibiting the manufacture and install of C-130 ramp mount bushings. He coordinated with Air Logistic Center engineers to come up with a one-time fix and then followed up by submitting an AFTO 22 to prevent future occurrences which was approved and implemented on all U.S. Air Force C-130s. In addition, he designed a local manufacturing technique for non-procurable C-130 nose landing gear door brackets. This force multiplying process produced immediate results, correcting grounding conditions on six aircraft as well as backfilling the supply system by producing 13 serviceable spares, filling a fleet wide back-log. Finally, he stood up the 440th Maintenance Squadron's maintenance production office, leading to improved coordination amongst the flights and between MXS and AMXS, directly contributing to Maintenance Group's unprecedented 97.5 percent maintenance scheduling effectiveness and the mission capability rate increase of 18 percent increase to 87 percent, its highest ever level. The distinctive accomplishments of Sergeant Keesling reflect great credit upon himself, the 2d Airlift Squadron and the United States Air Force.