Tyndall sergeant earns Maintenance Professional of the Year (NCO), Lt. Gen. Leo Marquez Award

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Alex Echols
  • 325th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  Tyndall Staff Sgt. Phillip Thompson, 325th Maintenance Squadron precision guided munitions crew chief, earned the Maintenance Professional of the Year in the NCO category and the Munitions Maintenance Lt. Gen. Leo Marquez Award in the technician category during the 2012 Maintenance and Staff Professionals of the Year banquet in Hangar 1 March 15.

The Huntington, Ind., native said it was great to receive these awards. The Maintenance Professional of the Year award recognizes the sustained performance of individuals making the most supstantial contributions to the group's mission. The Lt. Gen. Leo Marquez Award recognizes individuals who enhanced maintenance readiness, improved efficiency, and reduced waste by encouraging excellence in all maintenance areas and is presented to the top munitions and aircraft maintenance technicians, supervisors, and managers.

"It feels great to be recognized for the work you do on a daily basis," Sergeant Thompson said.

Sergeant Thompson has been in the Air Force for nine years and has worked in the maintenance career field throughout his enlistment. His favorite part about his job is the diversity.

"My favorite part of the job is the challenges of the daily work," said Sergeant Thompson. "We do not have a daily routine. One day you will be working on one missile system the next day you will be working on something completely different.

The MPOY banquet recognizes the achievements of the maintenance group and honors maintenance professionals each year.

The original maintenance professional award was established in 1979 to recognize outstanding performance of direct, sortie-producing maintenance specialists. Support, training and staff personnel make vital contributions to effective sortie production. Tyndall recognized these important professionals in their diversified career fields.

For more photos from the event, Common Access Card holders can click here.