Maintenance Management Awards

Major David A. Blount distinguished himself by meritorious service as Maintenance Mission Commander, 16th Expeditionary Special Operations Squadron, 1st Expeditionary Special Operations Group, Combined Joint Special Operations Air Component, Special Operations Command Central. During this period, Major Blount exhibited superior leadership by galvanizing a logistics and maintenance team comprised of 80 technicians across 18 Air Force Specialty Codes, providing logistical continuity and performing quality maintenance on AC-130H Spectre Gunship and MC-130E Combat Talon I aircraft supporting Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. A committed warrior and Total Force Integration leader, he displayed relentless commitment to excellence as he led his uniquely integrated Active Duty and Reserve Component unit to a phenomenal 98 percent maintenance effectiveness rate and an unprecedented 99 percent sustained mission capability rate. Major Blount expertly directed the time-sensitive generation of an emergency battlefield medical evacuation sortie in which the unit Flight Surgeon was able to save the leg of a wounded American soldier. Major Blount's leadership directly contributed to the generation of 460 combat sorties, amassing 975 flying hours. These highly specialized missions led to the detainment of 122 insurgents, the destruction of 17 vehicles and 33 buildings, totaling 345 enemy killed in action and the movement of 885 short tons of cargo crucial to the support of Special Operations Forces actively engaged in the Global War on Terrorism. The distinctive accomplishments of Major Blount reflect credit upon himself, the 16th Expeditionary Special Operations Squadron and the United States Air Force.