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    Air Commando earns SECDEF award for environmental work

    Air Commando earns SECDEF award for environmental work

    Photo By Master Sgt. Ryan Conroy | Frederick Javier, a physical scientist with the 1st Special Operations Civil Engineer...... read more read more

    HURLBURT FIELD, FL, UNITED STATES

    04.20.2018

    Story by Staff Sgt. Ryan Conroy 

    1st Special Operations Wing Public Affairs

    An Air Commando, here, earned a Secretary of Defense-level award for his environmental work on base and in the community, April 16, 2018.

    Frederick Javier, a physical scientist with the 1st Special Operations Civil Engineer Squadron, was awarded the 2018 Secretary of Defense Environmental Award for Environmental Quality by Col. Tom Palenske, commander of the 1st Special Operations Wing.

    “Mr. Javier’s dedication to the mission, community and environment are unsurpassed,” said Palenske. “His efforts have greatly assisted in saving money, eliminating waste and thinking innovatively to keep our community clean.”

    Javier is the program manager for hazardous waste, recycling, environmental training and environmental planning here. Additionally, due to manning shortages, he voluntarily led the air, water, wastewater, tanks, cultural resources and natural resource programs for extended periods of time during the past year.

    “Mr. Javier’s superior accomplishments across numerous environmental areas epitomize a DoD environmental thought leader making significant and lasting impacts," said Martin Tabor, chief of environmental for the 1st SOCES, and Javier’s direct supervisor. “Through hard work and innovation, he took each program to new heights of excellence.”

    His work revitalized the recycling program by leveraging rising commodity prices to increase revenue for the base. In the past, money earned through the recycling program have paid for community events such as fireworks.

    “If we lost the capability to recycle, we would see an increase in waste ending up in our landfills, you would lose potential revenue that goes back into services programs and family events,” said Javier. “We’re constantly reviewing our processes to see how we can do things quicker, better and not hinder the mission.”

    Additionally, Javier addressed a need to clean the Hurlburt Field Marina due to hurricanes pushing debris and garbage into the port. He asked the Special Tactics Training Squadron to have students certify and train on underwater scuba qualifications by cleaning the marina and finding ocean waste.

    “If we don’t keep an eye on the marina, you can lose out on that pristine environment … you lose that safe place for families and children to use,” said Javier. “The coordination and support we received from the STTS was outstanding and helped us knock out two birds with one stone.”

    His accomplishments, ingenuity and accomplishments spanned several units on base and the impacts were felt by thousands, if not more. For Javier, the recognition is humbling.

    “We could have put anyone’s name on that award package in this section; that’s how good this team was,” said Javier. “There is no way I would have been recognized and the accomplishments would not have been possible without the support I received from everyone on Hurlburt.”

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    NEWS INFO

    Date Taken: 04.20.2018
    Date Posted: 04.20.2018 18:24
    Story ID: 273962
    Location: HURLBURT FIELD, FL, US

    Web Views: 500
    Downloads: 0

    PUBLIC DOMAIN