53rd Wing wins 2 science awards

Published Oct. 21, 2014
By Staff Sgt. Steve Stanley
Air Combat Command Public Affairs

LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. -- Airmen from the 53rd Wing earned two Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) awards this year. Air Combat Command earned four of the 15 awards despite representing only three percent of the Air Force's entire STEM career field. Signal jammers, threat warning systems, asset recognition and tracking, and cyber capabilities were all improved through ACC's award-winning innovations.

The Air Force level STEM Awards recognize individual and team achievements in Science and Engineering categories, bringing to light the technical achievements in areas that are critical to the Air Force.

"This is a career event and only happens once in a lifetime to people," said Janet Fender, Air Combat Command Chief Scientist. "Typically these awards only go to people in STEM career fields."

ACC leaders have emphasized the need for innovation in a time of fiscal challenges and an unsure budget climate. ACC's focus on STEM-related career fields is essential to this innovation and adaptation.

The 2014 Air Force Outstanding Scientist/Engineer STEM award winner in the Junior Civilian category, David Barnette, 36th Electronic Weapons Squadron at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, led several electronic countermeasure testing and process improvement techniques for various pod systems, ensuring continued fighter aircraft protection and Air Force access to contested environments.

"I am greatly honored to receive an Air Force level award for the work I've done and for what the teams I've been a part of have accomplished," Barnette said. "Though the award is attached to my name, I feel as though it validates the work of everyone around me who work every day to support the warfighter and develop new capabilities to protect them in the future."

The winner of the Air Force Outstanding Scientist/Engineer Team, the 36th Electronic Weapons Squadron, led several electronic countermeasure testing and process improvement techniques for various pod systems, ensuring continued fighter aircraft protection and AF access to contested environments. The team performed similar advances for the B-1B, B-52 and B-2 bombers, producing innovative solutions and quick turnaround results crucial in supporting our Nation's long range and strategic bombing requirements.

"Knowing the caliber of employees across the entire Air Force, I am absolutely honored to be chosen for this award amongst so many people," Barnette said. "Since there is so much fantastic work being done with new and upcoming programs, it is great for our teams' work on the F-16 and A-10 platforms to be recognized as important and noteworthy to the Air Force community as a whole."

"We don't have the tons and tons of money to be throwing at new capabilities," Fender said. "We have to be using brain power, innovation and in-house people and keep recognizing them as so important."