5th MXG civilian earns AF award

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman
  • Minot Air Force Base Public Affairs
The Air Force recently recognized a civilian from the 5th Maintenance Group as the 2005 Combat Air Forces Engineering and Technical Services Lead of the Year. 

“Winning this award is a great honor,” said George Nice, 5th MXG equipment specialist. “This tops my list of AF civil service achievements.” 

Mr. Nice was recognized as the AFETS Lead of the Year for efforts while his team deployed. His AFETS team provided technical advice and assistance on 39 major maintenance modifications, identified authorized parts, materials and procedures for repair of numerous safety of flight and long lead time repairs contributing to a savings of more than $2.3 million. 

Also when the 5th Bomb Wing deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, his AFETS team led the 40th Air Expeditionary Group to meet 100 percent of their combat taskings, support 103 percent of the tasked vulnerability period hours and provide over 1000 hours of direct air power support for coalition forces. 

“Mr. Nice sets high goals for himself and his team and achieves every one of them,” said Col. Gary Lane, 5th MXG commander. “I do not make a move on maintenance issues without first talking with Mr. Nice.  He will be going out on our next deployment and I am confident of the engineering expertise that he will provide to the deployers.” 

This is the second 2005 AFETS award for Minot. Darrell Kerzman won the Combat Air Forces Engineering and Technical Services Equipment Specialist of 2005. 

“My AFETS team are the best in the Air Force,” said Col. Gary Lane. “They consistently earn and win awards.  If the 5th Bomb Wing maintainers have a tough maintaining problem on a jet, my AFETS immediately go into action whether it is normal duty hours or after duty hours on weekends.” 

Mr. Nice accepted his award at the AFETS Lead Conference Awards Banquet in Williamsburg Va. May 24.