Captain nabs AETC Logistics Readiness award

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Joshua Stevens
  • 325th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  Air Education and Training Command offcials notified a Tyndall Airman this month he won the 2008 AETC Logistics Readiness Company Grade Officer of the Year Award for outstanding contributions to his career field.

Capt. Timothy Leno, 325th Mission Support Group installation deployment officer, received his first major command-level award for efforts sustained not only here, but while deployed to Southwest Asia; his deployment included two months to Camp Phoenix, Afghanistan, as the deputy of logistics, as well as 3 ½ months to the U.S. Embassy in Kabul as an executive officer.

Captain Leno lends much praise to his leadership while deployed as a certain driving factor to winning the award, especially during his time as the executive officer to the Deputy Commanding General, Brig. Gen. Tod Wolters, who is also a former 325th Fighter Wing commander.

"More than anything, it was a matter of being in the right place at the right time," he said. "... It's hard not to do good things when your leadership exudes pride and professionalism."

However, these "good things" came as the result of much hard work and long hours.

Our normal duty day at the embassy started at 7 a.m., but we wouldn't 'lock the safe' until around 11 p.m. each night, Captain Leno said. Sundays were our 'down days,' but even still, we worked from 1 to 10 p.m.

Working at the embassy's tempo created its own unique pressures.

"I think the embassy was the biggest stressor," he said. "Our office was just down the hall from the ambassador's, so swapping hats from military to political was the biggest challenge."

Despite the challenge of the assignments, Captain Leno's accomplishments kept piling on. Of the 20+ significant achievements in his award write-up, stand-outs include heading European Command's first-ever deployable Joint Command and Control System C-5/C-17 delivery, an impact of $12 million on forward operations; coordinating "to a T" the travel and security of a general officer in "high risk of capture" theater of operation; and prepping the deputy commanding general for numerous congressional delegations.

Here at home station, he is credited with revamping the hurricane evacuation plan by clarifying its logistics roles and responsibilities, as well as serving as a key inspiration to the deployment readiness cell's "Outstanding" rating during the 2008 Operational Readiness Inspection.

He says he draws his motivation to achieve from not wanting to let his leadership down, but never-the-less remains humble about the accolade, crediting those around him.

"It is a very nice award to win, but awards are not the reason for doing what I do," Captain Leno said. "There are many folks who I work with, and they are the reason I am answering these questions. Without them, my award package would only have my name, rank and social."

His team-inclusive attitude is evident in the impression he's made on those who work for him.

"Captain Leno is a true leader and professional," said Tech. Sgt. Frankie Page, 325 MSG Logistics Readiness NCO in charge. "He leads from the front and is always calm under pressure. He is the kind of officer every NCO wants to work for."

Captain Leno will go on to compete at the Air Force level later this year.