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56th CMS commander wins AF award

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Melanie Iannaggi
  • 56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  The 56th Component Maintenance Squadron commander was selected as the 2009 Air Force Lieutenant General Leo Marquez award  winner for Aircraft Maintenance field grade manager category March 7.

Maj. Robert Brinker was humled and surprised by the announcement.

"I didn't believe it at first," Major Brinker said. "I was amazed that I won at the Majcom-level when I first found out. Winning at Air Force-level probably won't sink in until after I officially receive the award at the banquet April 28 in Washington, D.C."

The Lieutenant General Leo Marquez award recognizes excellence in the maintenance career field.

"The award is all about job performance and proficiency," Major Brinker said. "I come to work, do my job, lead my squadron and try to make things better and more efficient while focusing on the wing mission."

Major Brinker credits the win to his entire squadron. He and 56th CMS were recognized for saving the Air Force more than $50 million.

"I won this award because of what members of the 56th CMS do on a daily basis," he said. "I am being recognized for all of the hard work they did. Members of my squadron came up with great ideas and I gave them the support they needed to succeed. I'm being held up by my squadron's giants."

One of the ideas 56th CMS developed was an Air and Education Training Command "Best Practice" dealing with the fuel sprayrings process. The squadron inducted 354 augmentor fuel sprayrings for in-house bake, flow tests and returned 127 to service, saving the Air Force $1.2 million.

Col. Geoff Parkhurst, 56th Maintenance Group commander, said Major Brinker is a hard-working, results-driven leader.

"He entrusts squadron members with their part of the mission and gives them the flexibility to do their jobs at or above the squadron's standards," he said. "I believe he won because his proud maintainers in the 56th CMS followed his leadership and direction to produce the 56th Fighter Wing's mission."

Major Brinker said winning this award will reinforce his current goals.

"I set my goals off of the Air Force Core Values," he said. "My main goal is to improve every unit I'm assigned to, making it better than before I came."

Major Brinker said he feels honored and fortunate to receive this award on behalf of 56th CMS.

"I want to thank the great people working in the 56th CMS," he said. "This is more of a unit award than anything. I just provided them with the tools and support. They made it happen."