Team Travis: You are making a difference

  • Published
  • By Col. GI Tuck
  • 60th Air Mobility Wing acting commander
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  Since my family and I moved here a little more than two months ago, we have had the privilege to witness so many Team Travis successes, from experiencing the thrill of absolute dominance showcased by winning 17 Rodeo trophies this summer led by Maj. Scott Nishwitz, Rodeo team chief and Maj. Aaron Rarey, assistant team chief, to the "Outstanding" rating by the Air Mobility Command Inspector General team.

Travis had standout performances from troops like Staff Sgt. Brien Derrick, 60th Air Mobility Wing, our maintenance generation teams led by Staff Sgt. Charles Thorne, 660th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron and our Security Forces internal perimeter security team led by Ray Crowell to name a few - you've shined!

Just last week we received great news from our 660th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron's KC-10 Thrust Reverser Improvement Design team winning the 2007 Chief of Staff Team Excellence Award, our superstars, Tech. Sgt. Randall Miller, Jeff Hammett, Dale Gossic, and Dave Kennedy also took home honors winning an Air Force best practice award as well as Industry's Atlas Award for innovation (click here to view story).

Chief Master Sgt. Michael Williams, 60th AMW command chief, and I paid a visit to the 60th Logistics Readiness Squadron where we honored Senior Airman David Turcios as the Warrior of the Week recipient and celebrated with Mel Torres as AMC's Outstanding Technician of the Year. Capt. Saskia Trujillo, 60th LRS, and Capt. Matthew Vincent, 60th LRS and the LRS "Log Dogs" were out in force!

Not to be outdone, I happened to stumble across a scene of outstanding customer service at our David Grant USAF Medical Center's "Cast Clinic." Medical residents, Capt. Rebecca Frye and her superb team from the 60th Medical Operations Squadron, rushed to render careful aid to two of our senior citizens, one of which had a severe wrist sprain. This group of medical professionals swarmed around these two ladies like bees in honey, and ensured they were both comfortable - both were made to feel at home.

Finally, I visited our year end close out teams led by Maj. Lasheeco Graham, 60th Comptroller Squadron commander and Lt. Col. Chris Williams, 60th Contracting Squadron commander, where 25 to 40 of their warriors were able to commit money from AMC to fund quality of life, communications, civil engineering projects and energy initiatives. Thanks to this team as well as all of our resource advisors, we were able to commit funds which other bases were not ready to execute! Bravo Zulu!

The great thing about our base is I've only scratched the surface with these few examples of the work you do everyday representing our great Air Force ... it's the standard way we do business at Travis. On behalf of Colonel and Mrs. Arquiette, Chief and Mrs. Williams, the 15th Expeditionary Mobility Task Force, 615th Contingency Response Wing and Reserve partners: thank you for what you do each and every day - you truly are making a difference!