By 2nd Lt Luz Colón, 177FW/PAO, photo by Master Sgt. Donald Taggart, 177FW/MultiMedia Information Center
The 177th Fighter Wing received the top three Air National Guard environmental awards at the Air National Guard Environmental Conference held at Gulfport, Miss., on Mar. 19.
The Wing’s Natural Resources Conservation Team was presented the Air National Guard Environmental Quality Award, the ANG Natural Resources Management Award and the ANG State Environmental Employee Award.
The Environmental Quality Award is presented to the best air guard environmental program. The Wing has received the Award three times since its inception in 1996,” stated 1st Lt. Rich DeFeo. This award is directly related to the hard work and dedication of all the unit members. What they consider as day-to-day is seen as exceptional by the ANG, and the Air Force.”
The ANG Natural Resources Management (team) Award was presented to Lt. Col. John Elwood, 1st Lt. DeFeo, Master Sgt. Wayne Miller, Master Sgt. Anthony Boccelli, Tech. Sgt. Michael Chaney, and Senior Airman Julius Simmons. The team conducts inventories of natural resources; prepares and implements natural resources plans; applies managements techniques; protects wetlands and other special natural areas and promotes conservation education. The ANG State Environmental Employee Award was awarded to 1st Lt. DeFeo who manages the entire Environmental program.
The unit will be recognized in May at the Air Force Environmental Awards Ceremony in Washington, D.C., as the winner of the 2002 General Thomas D. White Environmental Quality Award for Reserve Component.