Air Armament Academy instructors recognized for dedication

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Mike Meares
  • Team Eglin Public Affairs
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  Sharpening the edge of the sword with education is the reason four instructors from the Air Armament Academy have been singled out.

Emily Jay, Maj. Phillip Bascom, Jill Barfield and Greg Hutto, instructors for the four colleges in the A3, were singled out for their contributions to professional education during a ceremony Feb. 5 where they received the Blaise Durante Instructor of the Year Award - given to them by the award's name sake.

The instructors were graded and selected based on the criteria for the award, which includes the number of classes taught, number of students trained, feedback received for those classes, and impact on mission accomplishment.

The awards presented are named for Blaise Durante, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Acquisition Integration, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition. Mr. Durante was the guest speaker at the presentation. Maj. Gen. David Eidsaune, Air Armament Center commander, recognized the instructors for their diligence in training the workforce to do their jobs more effectively.

"(Eglin personnel) get more than their fair share (of awards)," the general said. "I don't feel bad about that."

The instructors were presented with a sword by General Eidsaune and Mr. Durante in recognition of contributions to sharpening the minds of Eglin personnel. Each sword has the academy coin embedded in the hilt and the blade has the inscription, "2008 Air Armament Academy Durante Instructor of the Year Award," along with their name and the college they represent. The coin reflects the academy's mission, "Sharper minds for those who forge the sword."

"The most important part of the job is mentoring and teaching those coming in behind you," Mr. Durante said. "If we don't teach, we are setting (the future) up for failure."

Ms. Jay, Air Armament Center contracting director, represents the academy's College of Acquisition. Ms. Jay taught classes on a variety of subjects. She has provided training to more than 900 government and contractor personnel through her participation in Industry Days and the National Education Seminar. Her training is focused on developing a workforce who understands the basics while keeping pace with a rapidly changing acquisitions environment.

Major Bascom, 96th Medical Operations Squadron Social Work Residency Program director, represents the College of Installation Sustainment and Management. He is responsible for the coordination, delivery and quality of the overall training programs. He has delivered instruction on ten sessions and orchestrated a two-week immersion program involving 12 other instructors. He has also coordinated Eglin's Front-Line Supervisor's Training course, training more than 24 instructors and co-facilitators to cover more than 14 monthly classes, while teaching five classes himself. He was rated the number briefer across all grades.

Ms. Barfield, Air Force Research Laboratory, represents the College of Science and Technology, provided numerous briefings supporting the Small Business Innovation Research program. Her briefings on the Online Evaluation Process resulted in efficient management of the Munitions Directorate's large SBIR program. It further helped program managers understand the requirements to evaluate proposals, debrief suggestions and guidelines and learn the roles and responsibilities of the evaluators.

Mr. Hutto, 46th Test Wing, represents the College of Test and Evaluation. With high-visibility courses, his contributions included instruction to AAC chief engineers, members of the senior executive service, flag officers, colonels and strategic plans and programs staff from Pacific Command. He fostered a solid partnership with the 53rd Wing, Air Force Flight Test Center, Arnold Engineering Development Center and Operational Test and Evaluation Command. In all, Mr. Hutto taught 26 classes to over 380 students and developed his curriculum to reach an Air Force wide audience.

The academy, in a more than five-year existence, has taught more than 130,000 students through more than 8,200 courses offered. In Mr. Durante's remarks, he singled out Judy Stokley, deputy Program Executive Officer and Executive Director for the Air Armament Center as the Dean of Acquisition, as an ambassador for education, not just at Eglin, but in the Air Force. Mr. Durante spoke of leadership and mentorship and how it takes many forms.

"What is your vision," he asked the crowd in attendance. "If you don't know where you are going, how can I help you get there?"

"The best career developer is yourself," he said. "No one knows your innermost desires except for yourself."

April will mark the sixth anniversary of the Air Armament Academy, which was established in April 2003 to ensure Eglin personnel have a wide variety of training opportunities available to promote effectiveness in the workplace. A schedule of classes is available at https://afkm.wpafb.af.mil/ASPs/CoP/OpenCoP.asp?Filter=OO-ED-AA-A2.