Aviano housing personnel engineer Air Force-level victory

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Lindsey Maurice
  • 31st Fighter Wing Public Affairs
AVIANO AIR BASE, Italy --  Two civil engineers received some good news recently when they were told of their selection for Air Force-level awards.

Lani Waikiki, 31st Civil Engineer Squadron asset management flight chief, earned the Air Force Professional Housing Management Association Military Service Category Award and Staff Sgt. Robert Gamboa, 31st CES unaccompanied housing manager, was awarded the Air Force Outstanding Military Airmen Dorm Leader Award.

"Mrs. Waikiki and Sergeant Gamboa are both outstanding performers who are part of a great housing team," said Lt. Col. Bo Bloomer, 31st CES commander. "I've known that they are both world-class performers for some time and it's good to see their accomplishments recognized at the highest levels."

Mrs. Waikiki, who has been working for the Air Force for almost 36 years, said she was elated when she heard the news of her win.

"I thought 'Oh my God. Wow, we won,'" she said. "You have to understand that this award is not only about me, it's about the support I get from our people and leadership. No one can complete these types of accomplishments all by themselves. It takes a team."

During the award period, which ran from October 2008 to September 2009, Mrs. Waikiki was lauded for her work in standardizing economy housing rental contracts for Aviano Airmen and saving the Air Force an estimated $2.5 million over the last two years.

"Before the rent charged for a house by landlords and agents was done without any rationale, because they could," she said. "We created a form with standards of what was considered suitable and the cost derived from each commune and the Chamber of Commerce on rents per square meter for livable and non-livable space. We also added a list of amenities that could plus up rents and a modest 5 percent increase to nationals renting in the area who live there for 15 years or so. Based on the calculation, we came up with an excellent negotiating figure and something we could show the landlords or agents for how the negotiated rent was determined as per their own Italian system. We're thankful that we've been able to get this initiative solidly in place."

Mrs. Waikiki was also recognized for the flight's advantageous customer services including online accessibility to pertinent forms, floor plans and instructions for housing seekers as well as detailed directions and GPSs to find the hundreds of homes available to military families in the surrounding Italian communities.

The flight chief was also instrumental in getting the Automated Housing Referral Network at Aviano, a Department of Defense sponsored site designed to improve the process of securing available housing for relocating military members and their families.

"We are helping our landlords and agents to use this easy and user friendly system; however, 80 percent of them don't speak, read or write English," she said. "We've helped by giving them the actual forms with translations and explanations in writing and samples to help them access and use the AHRN system. It has been an extremely long process since June, but our landlords and owners have been good to us Americans and have been more than willing to learn our new system."

Mrs. Waikiki was also selected by the Papa Air Base, Hungary, commander to secure housing for 41 newly assigned U.S. military members and dependents.

"When we got the notice, we executed a plan within 30 days and were ready and able to provide support to the personnel and their families being assigned there within two months," she said. "Air Force personnel and their families are well taken care of and it's just wonderful to see just how we together can make things happen."

Mrs. Waikiki's unaccompanied housing counterpart, Sergeant Gamboa, said he was also excited and humbled when he heard the news of his recent recognition.

"I was surprised when I first heard the news of the USAFE-level award," said Sergeant Gamboa. "I didn't even know the award existed, let alone that I was put up for it. After that, I never thought twice about winning at the Air Force-level. With so many other bases to compete against, including ones where dorms are the only housing they have, I didn't think I stood a chance. I'm surprised and happy."

During the award period, Sergeant Gamboa championed three major dormitory upgrades including $355,000 toward surveillance cameras, $100,000 in furniture and $125,000 toward anti-slip stairways.

The NCO also spearheaded a $100,000 contract to paint vacated dormitory rooms, reducing out-processing time for residents who previously had to paint their own quarters. In addition, Sergeant Gamboa motivated 20 volunteers to conduct a landscaping/cleanup project that garnered an "excellent" rating during the 31st Fighter Wing command chief's annual inspection.

During the past year, the near 10-year veteran inspired 51 Airmen to join the dorm council which provided them with leadership opportunities. As a result, vandalism and mischief around the dorms was reduced.

Another accomplishment of note was the NCOs streamlining of the base's bay orderly operations in which he slashed personnel from 16 to nine, reducing wing work center cuts by 3,640 hours.

Looking beyond the Aviano AB perimeter, Sergeant Gamboa also procured $10,000 in furniture for Camp Darby dormitories improving the quality of life for Airmen at a geographically separated unit.

"Housing, including the unaccompanied 'dorm' housing, is one of the most difficult jobs on base," said Colonel Bloomer. "It can be a very emotional issue when you're dealing with the roof over one's head or the heat in a house -- issues that Mrs. Waikiki, Sergeant Gamboa, and the rest of the Asset Management Team take very seriously. I'm proud they are part of our great CE team."