Spangdahlem AB named best Air Force installation Published Feb. 14, 2011 By Staff Sgt. Kali L. Gradishar 52nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs SPANGDAHLEM AIR BASE, Germany -- Secretary of the Air Force Michael B. Donley and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton A. Schwartz announced Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, as the 2011 Installation Excellence Award recipient Feb. 15. The base will receive $1 million for quality-of-life improvements. "Congratulations to every Saber - from the Airmen and their family members to the civilians, contractors and our neighbors in the German community - for being awarded the 2011 Commander in Chief's Installation Excellence Award," Col. Christopher Weggeman, 52nd Fighter Wing commander, said. "Now, my fellow Sabers, as the most outstanding installation in the U.S. Air Force, we have the opportunity to make quality-of-life improvements with the $1 million prize." The Installation Excellence Award, which was initiated in 1984, recognizes "the outstanding efforts of the people who operate and maintain Department of Defense installations, and effectively use their resources to support the mission," according to the Air Force Secretary and Chief of Staff's announcement for the award. "The Saber family continues to shatter my every expectation in so many ways," Colonel Weggeman said. "This victory is the validation of our Saber ethos -- I am proud to be a part of this installation and I know this award is truly deserved." Along with the Installation Excellence Award, 100 units and individuals were recognized as Special Recognition winners. This Secretary of Defense award recognizes units, teams, projects and individuals for outstanding support of installation excellence. Individual Special Recognition winners are awarded the Air Force Recognition Ribbon or the civilian recognition lapel pin. "It's the outstanding Airmen who make an installation outstanding," the commander said. The Special Recognition winners are listed below beginning with Spangdahlem Air Base award winners, followed by winners from the Wing's geographically-separated units: Spangdahlem AB, Germany: Aerospace and Operational Physiology Team, Safety Office, 52nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs Team, 52nd FW Spangdahlem AB Chapel Team, 52nd FW Wing Legal Office Team, 52nd FW Wing Safety Team, 52nd FW Wing Plans, Programs, and Inspections Team, 52nd FW Maj. Sean J. Cosden, 52nd FW Plans, Programs and Inspections Tech. Sgt. Stephanie A. Lee, 52nd FW Plans, Programs and Inspections Chaplain (Maj.) Daniel W. Thompson, 52nd FW Chapel Staff Sgt. Benjamin D. Wilson, 52nd FW Public Affairs 52d Civil Engineer Squadron Operations Flight, 52nd CES Programs Flight, 52nd CES Readiness and Emergency Management Flight, 52nd CES Snow Removal Team, 52nd CES Alex A. Colby, 52nd CES Senior Master Sgt. Russell S. Eidenschink, 52nd CES Inge Lersch, 52nd CES Norbert Lorenz, 52nd CES Michael J. Noret, 52nd CES Staff Sgt. Elizabeth C. Spradley, 52nd CES Udo Stuermer, 52nd CES Senior Airman Kevin A. Wannemacher, 52nd CES 52nd Communications Squadron Unit Deployment Manager Team, 52d Component Maintenance Squadron 52nd Comptroller Squadron Maj. Gerald A. Stevenson, 52nd CPTS Senior Master Sgt. Len Mitchell Jr., 52nd CPTS 52nd Contracting Squadron Dental Services Team, 52nd Dental Squadron Tech. Sgt. Nathaniel C. Furman, 52nd Equipment Maintenance Squadron Master Sgt. Anders L. Henkel, 52nd EMS Airman and Family Readiness Center, 52nd Force Support Squadron Club Eifel, 52nd FSS Community Services Flight, 52nd FSS Eifel Arms Inn, 52nd FSS Manpower and Personnel Flight, 52nd FSS Pet Spa, 52nd FSS Spangdahlem AB Bowling Center, 52nd FSS Nicole Feuring, 52nd FSS Mark Geairn, 52nd FSS Eric E. Guth, 52nd FSS Capt. Darryl J. Hebert Jr, 52nd FSS Michael T. McGuire, 52nd FSS Master Sgt. Swanette P. Roper, 52nd FSS Sharon R. Tomlinson, 52nd FSS Fuels Management Flight, 52nd Logistics Readiness Squadron Vehicle Management Flight and European Transportation Training Center, 52nd LRS Master Sgt. Jason E. Klug, 52nd LRS Ancillary Services Team, 52nd Medical Group Aerospace Medicine Team, 52nd MDG GSU Support Functions, 52nd MDG Medical Deployment Processing Team, 52nd MDG Medical Nursing Services, 52nd MDG Staff Sgt. Joseph R. Alvarez, 52nd Medical Operations Squadron Kelly E. Brent, 52nd MDOS Capt. Kimberly M. Highland, 52nd MDOS Maj. Michael R. Hobson, 52nd MDOS School Liaison Office, 52nd Mission Support Group Master Sgt. Carleton J. Citrine, 52nd Operation Support Squadron Tech. Sgt. Karen M. Cullen, 52nd OSS Senior Airman Anthony R. Farnsworth, 52nd OSS Senior Master Sgt. Marion D. Fletcher, 52nd OSS Tech. Sgt. Nicholas B. Hull, 52nd OSS Senior Master Sgt. James R. Lyda, 52nd OSS Tech. Sgt. Erick J. Matos, 52nd OSS Capt. Barry McGee, 52nd OSS Tech. Sgt. Stacy L. Miller, 52nd OSS Chelsea J. Pankratz, 52nd OSS Capt. Timothy D. Riley, 52nd OSS Tech. Sgt. Richard A. Turner, 52nd OSS Craig H. Schlattmann, 52nd OSS Cristoph Steffgen, 52nd OSS Brian W. Valentine, 52nd OSS Senior Master Sgt. David E. Huerd, 52nd Security Forces Squadron Master Sgt. Michael R. Groder, 52nd SFS Bryan P. McGarr, 52nd SFS 81st Fighter Squadron 372rd Training Squadron, Detachment 17 Maj. Jason E. Attaway, 480th Fighter Squadron Capt. Brandon P. Baughman, 480th FS Capt. Hugh E. Walker III, 480th FS Master Sgt. Randall O. Bach, 606th Air Control Squadron Staff Sgt. Matthias K. Blitz, 606th ACS Master Sgt. Jason S. Boster, 606th ACS Tech. Sgt. Mark A. Burwen, 606th ACS Senior Master Sgt. Steven L. Fallin, 606th ACS Capt. Jennifer R. Garrison, 606th ACS Aircraft Deicing Team, 726th Air Mobility Squadron C-17 Refueling Team, 726th AMS Kleine Brogel AB, Belgium Food Services Team, 701st Munitions Support Squadron Ghedi AB, Italy Command Post, 704th Munitions Support Squadron Communications Flight, 704th MUNSS Staff Sgt. Donald E. Jackson, 704th MUNSS Geilenkirchen NATO Air Base, Germany Tech. Sgt. Joshua S. Trotter, 470th Air Base Squadron Chaplain (Maj.) James R. Armstrong, 470th ABS Buechel AB, Germany Capt. Michael D. McGrath, 702d Munitions Support Squadron Staff Sgt. Aaron S. Oeth, 702nd MUNSS Maj. Christopher P. Graves, 702nd MUNSS