Arlington, VA, September 15, 2000--Honors go to top civilian, military and industry leaders during the Air Force Association 2000 National Convention and Aerospace Technology Exposition held September 11-13 at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel in Washington, D.C.

H.H. Arnold Award
The most outstanding military contributions in the field of National Security
Gen. Michael E. Ryan, Air Force Chief of Staff
For outstanding service as Air Force Chief of Staff. A leader in peace and war, he has fought for the quality of life for the men and women of the Total Force, and has also been a firm advocate for the modernization and full integration of aerospace forces.

W. Stuart Symington Award
The most outstanding civilian contributions in the field of National Security
Rep. Floyd D. Spence, House of Representatives
For strong and effective legislative leadership. As Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee and a senior ranking member of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, he is an extraordinarily knowledgeable proponent of a strong national defense. AFA salutes his effective support of quality of life programs for those who serve today as well as his insistence that promises made to those who have served in the past be honored.

John R. Alison Award
The most outstanding contributions to national Defense by an industrial leader
Simon Ramo, Ph.D and Dean E. Wooldridge, Ph.D
For a professional lifetime of excellence as industrialists, scientists, and prolific authors of scientific and technical material. Co-founders of the former Ramo-Wooldridge Corporation - which later merged with Thompson Products to become T-R-W - doctors Ramo and Wooldridge, as a team, managed the technical direction of the U.S. ICBM program which achieved revolutionary advances in missile technology and ensured U.S. national security in the face of a determined Soviet adversary.

David C. Schilling
The most outstanding contributions in the field of Flight
31^st Air Expeditionary Wing, Aviano Air Base, Italy
For superb application of airpower in combat environment during Operation Allied Force. The 31^st Air Expeditionary Wing almost tripled its usual size in 45 days. It literally wrote the book on bed-down of people and successful melding of 191 aircraft and helicopters from all four services--to include reserve forces--and five NATO nations into a cohesive team that sustained combat operations for 89 consecutive days of around-the-clock aerial combat, accounting for an amazing 25 percent of total Operation ALLIED FORCE sorties.

Theodore von Karman Award
The most outstanding contributions in the field of Science and Engineering
Air Force Weather Agency, Offutt AFB, Nebraska
For exemplifying integrated aerospace operations while providing outstanding weather support to forces deployed for Operation ALLIED FORCE. Innovative service provided Internet capabilities, forecasting models, and satellite products and services for operational customers. These enhancements resulted in unprecedented forecasting accuracy, saving lives and improving the effectiveness of strikes using precision weapons.

Gill Rob Wilson Award
The most outstanding contributions in the field of Arts and Letters
Rebecca Grant, Ph.D, Arlington, Virginia
For her sustained--and extremely effective--advocacy of airpower through her many studies, analyses, and published works. Her meticulous research and skilled presentation, both written and spoken, on military operations, doctrine, and airpower in the conflicts of the 1990's is unparalleled. In the past year, Dr. Grant’s analyses have gone far toward dispelling the myths about the effectiveness of airpower in Operation ALLIED FORCE.

Hoyt S. Vandenberg Award
The most outstanding contributions in the field of Aerospace Education
Advanced Education and Training Branch, Space Warfare Center, Schriever AFB, Colorado
For outstanding development of classroom instruction, courseware, and educational publications that effectively integrated Department of Defense, civil, commercial, and national space systems into combat operations and combat employment concepts. The educational materials produced by the Advanced Education and Training Branch, and its superb instructor corps, have bridged the gap between the space community and the warfighters, planting the seeds for a space-literate military and the first fully space-integrated fighting force.

Thomas P. Gerrity Award
The most outstanding contributions in the field of Logistics Management
Maj. Socrates L. Greene, Shaw AFB, South Carolina
For strong leadership, superior performance and dedication to duty while assigned as Commander, 20^th Component Repair Squadron, Shaw AFB, S.C. His extraordinary leadership inspired his people to the forefront of combat unit support for Operation ALLIED FORCE and other operations. He generated a DoD best of 102 TF34 engines while reducing "awaiting maintenance" from 27 to zero and maintained war-ready spare engine levels at 88 percent. Major Greene initiated a fuel tank build-up tiger team that reduced total hours required from 120 to 50, lauded by CINC and USAFE. He led his Electronic Warfare Section to an Air Force best 94 percent mod mission capable rate while cutting Air Combat Command’s periodic maintenance turnaround time standard in half. His mission support and the high morale and teamwork exhibited b his people led to his squadron winning the 1999 ACC Maintenance Effectiveness Award.

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