By Airman 1st Class Ericka A. Woolever, 31st Fighter Wing Public Affairs / Published November 14, 2019
Members of the 31st Operations Support Squadron pose for a photo at Aviano Air Base, Italy, Nov. 8, 2019. The squadron won the 2018 USAF D. Ray Hardin Air Traffic Control Facility of the Year Award, which recognizes outstanding accomplishments from Air Traffic Control teams. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman Thomas S. Keisler IV)
U.S. Air Force Airmen and Italian Air Force Airmen communicate with an inbound aircraft as they wait for an arrival at Aviano Air Base, Italy, Nov. 13, 2019. The 31st Operations Support Squadron develops wing war plans, administers weapons and tactics programs and provides current operations planning, air traffic control, airfield management, weather and intelligence support. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Ericka A. Woolever).
U.S. Air Force Senior Airmen Kyle Burns, a radar airfield weather systems technician from the 31st Operations Support Squadron, looks at processed data from the Digital Airport Surveillance Radar at Aviano Air Base, Italy, Nov. 13, 2019. The DASR provides real time location, altitude and range for all aircraft within a 60 mile radius. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Ericka A. Woolever).
A U.S. Air Force Airman and an Italian Air Force Airman work together to sequence arriving and departing aircraft at Aviano Air Base, Italy, Nov. 13, 2019. The 31st Operations Support Squadron supports the 31st Fighter Wing combat-ready air control squadron, Guardian Angel rescue squadron, HH-60G Pave Hawk rescue squadron and two F-16CG Fighting Falcon fighter squadrons. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Ericka A. Woolever).
U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Deuderit Colon De Jesus, an airfield management operations supervisor from the 31st Operations Support Squadron, uses a radio to request permission from the air traffic control tower to cross the runway at Aviano Air Base, Italy, Nov. 13, 2019. The 31st Operations Support Squadron develops wing war plans, administers weapons and tactics programs and provides current operations planning, air traffic control, airfield management, weather and intelligence support. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Ericka A. Woolever).
U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Daniel Cabezas, an air traffic control watch supervisor from the 31st Operations Support Squadron, pilots a tower simulator system at Aviano Air Base, Italy, Nov. 13, 2019. The TSS trains air traffic controllers for proficiency in upgrade training and helps our host nation with their certifications. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Ericka A. Woolever).
It was quiet, one could feel the stillness in the air, as about 1,000 people sat in white chairs, watching history being made right before their eyes.
Aviano’s Airfield Operations team, which is made up of four diverse teams - Airfield Management, Air Traffic Control Tower, Radar Approach Control and Radar Airfield Weather Systems, from the 31st Operations Support Squadron - made history in the United States Air Force.
“We are an incredibly diverse flight with a huge mission overseas,” said Captain Kayley Squire, the airfield operations flight commander.
Aviano Tower won the USAF D. Ray Hardin Air Traffic Control Facility of the Year Award, which has existed since 1963 and recognizes outstanding accomplishments or achievements by air traffic control teams.
Aviano Tower was chosen over 137 other air traffic control facilities and it has been 24 years since a United States Air Forces in Europe base has won this award.
Additionally, Aviano was also selected over 98 other bases for the Airfield Operations Flight of the Year award, which has existed since 1998 and recognizes the outstanding combined accomplishments or achievements of airfield operation flight teams. This was the first time Aviano Air Base has ever won this award, and the first time a USAFE base has been recognized for this award in the last 13 years.
Aviano’s Airfield Operations team really made history as they were the first base in the U.S Air Force to win both of these awards in the same year.
“It makes you proud and humble to be part of it and it was really amazing to get two awards at that level because it’s unheard of in our community,” said Squire.
Aviano’s Airfield Operations team proved that they are a unified team of professional airfield managers, controllers, and maintainers that execute Aviano’s global mission while developing combat-ready Airmen.
“It was really all because of Airmen who care about their job, Airmen who run to work and Airmen who are proud of what they do,” said Senior Master Sgt. Joseph M. Plummer, airfield operations flight chief.
These awards were accomplished because of dedicated, driven, and innovated individuals that have original and unique ideas.
“It’s innovation: half of the tower’s award package consisted of new procedures and new processes,” said Plummer.
The new ideas came from a team, which consisted of 60 U.S Airmen, 33 Italian Air Force Airmen, and two local national civilians - a total of 95 NATO Airmen.
“Both awards could not have been accomplished without the ITAF and USAF partnership,” said Squire.
Many individuals played an important role in making U.S Air Force history, and with each award stood a team that mattered.
“You matter, our Airmen matter,” said Squire. “We can’t do what we need to for the mission without them. These awards wouldn’t have happened without a lot of individuals doing a lot of things together to make a mission impact beyond Aviano. We need people at every level to be ready, capable and understand that they matter for this mission, and this is proof that that work can be recognized appropriately.”