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AETC announces 2008 General and Mrs. Jerome F. O'Malley Award

  • Published
RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  Air Education and Training Command officials recently announced the 2008 General and Mrs. Jerome F. O'Malley Award winners. 

The command selected Brig. Gen. Darrell D. Jones, former 37th Training Wing commander, Lackland AFB, Texas, and his wife, Holly. This award recognizes a wing commander and spouse whose contributions to the nation, the Air Force and the local community best exemplify the highest ideals and positive leadership of a military couple in a key Air Force position.

In this vital role, General Jones commanded the most populous base in the Air Force with 45,000 military, civilian, and contractor personnel and 70 associate organizations. His extraordinary leadership was instrumental in replenishing the combat capability of the Air Force and building strong coalition partnerships. 

Under his command, the 37th Training Wing graduated 49,587 mission-ready Airmen from Basic Military Training, 45,445 Airmen in 30 Air Force specialties from technical training, and 5,700 international students representing 110 countries from the Defense Language Institute English Language Center and the Inter-American Air Forces Academy. 

Under General Jones' direction, the Air Force' newest medical group was established with 12 operating sites covering 550 square miles and over 200,000 patient visits per year. The seamless organizational transition from Wilford Hall Medical Center led to the phenomenal accomplishment of full medical accreditation in less than seven months from stand up. 

In keeping with the Chief of Staff's vision of growing warriors, General Jones and his team drove the execution of a $25 million Basic Expeditionary Airmen Skills Training field encampment. The implementation of the Common Battlefield Airmen Training course provided vital war fighter skills enabling Airmen to better execute the Global War on Terrorism. 

Additionally, General Jones' expert oversight led to the transfer and beddown of the Air Force' C-5 schoolhouse, with over 20 million dollars in new construction, allowing for the annual training of 422 total force aircrews. 

General Jones and his wife, Holly, were everywhere from the Air Force Village Board of Directors to holiday meals with the troops ... lauded by civic leaders stating no other couple has ever touched more people. His tour culminated with Lackland Air Force Base being named Business Week's "8th best place in the United States to raise children" out of 25,000 cities; the only military installation on the list. 

The command congratulates Brigadier General and Mrs. Darrell D. Jones for their significant accomplishments and wish them the best of luck at the Air Force level competition.