52nd MXG awarded at AF level Published March 19, 2010 By Senior Airman Clay Murray 52nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs SPANGDAHLEM AIR BASE, Germany -- The 52nd Fighter Wing is now home to the Air Force's best maintenance group. The 52nd Maintenance Group won the 2009 Maj. Gen. Clements McMullen Weapons System Maintenance Award, a Daedalian trophy and award annually presented to an Air Force wing by headquarters U.S. Air Force, for the best weapons system maintenance record in the 2009 calendar year. There is no higher Air Force-level award for maintenance, said Chief Master Sgt. David Brau, 52nd MXG superintendent. "It's an honor, obviously, to be recognized," Chief Brau said. "Our folks should be proud - it's not very often in the maintenance world can you say that you are the best in the Air Force. It's a culmination of all the hard work done throughout the year. I can't speak highly enough of them. "They continue to display exceptional performance," he added. "Just because we've won an Air Force-level award doesn't mean that we're going to stop working as we have. This is like the Super Bowl of maintenance. When you think about what they've done, it's impressive." Col. John Morley, 52nd MXG commander, also viewed the accomplishment as deserved recognition for maintenance Airmen's hard work. "It's just a reflection of the quality of the Airmen in the group," he said. "They work hard day-to-day, whether it's in Balad (Air Base, Iraq,) Nellis (Air Force Base, Nev.,) or Barksdale (Air Force Base, La.) I'm happy for our folks and proud they've done their job right. It's nice that they have been recognized for making a difference in the Air Force." Colonel Morley credits the award to excellent leadership, technical knowledge and a successful team effort. "Adherence to technical data, leadership at all levels from the first line to our squadron commanders and the hard work of the Airmen contribute to our success," he said. "All in all, it was a huge team effort. That team includes support of the fellow groups - operations, medical, mission support and major command support, as well as 3rd Air Force. "The Daedalian award is a maintenance award, but it's a reflection of all the work that we do together," he said. "The medics keep our people healthy, the operations troops work with us to schedule sorties and the mission support group provided parts and fuel. We wouldn't have won this award without them." Achieving recognition and an award at this level is possible with the proper team work and employs several of the Air Force Core Values, Chief Brau said. "Receiving an award like this supports our core values of 'Excellence In All We Do' and 'Integrity First', as Airmen are not always watched and have to do it right every time," he said. When Tech. Sgt. Marcus Donald, 52nd MXG aircrew egress systems quality assurance inspector, heard about the award, he was as thrilled as receiving a promotion, he said. "(Being part of the team) means a great deal, because on a day-to-day basis we all work together to make the mission happen, and everybody does their particular part," he said. "At the end of the day to be rewarded with a prize of this caliber says a great deal about the 52nd MXG." The Daedalian award has not yet been presented to the group and a date has not yet been determined, according to the 52nd MXG command section.